SM Krishna meets Pakistani political leaders

External Affairs minister SM Krishna today held talks with leaders from different political parties in Pakistan, including PML-N's Shahbaz Sharif to whom he presented a 'chaddar' to be placed on the revered shrine of Data Darbar which was attacked by terrorists recently.

A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders-led by Overseas Pakistan Affairs Minister Farooq Sattar met Krishna this morning as the external affairs minister wrapped up his three-day visit to Pakistan.

"We are happy on the resumption of dialogue between the two countries which has come at a very opportune time," Sattar said.

Krishna, the first external affairs minister to visit Pakistan since the November 2008 attacks that left 166 dead, also met PML-N leader and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and presented him a 'chaddar' to be placed on the shrine of Data Darbar, which was attacked by the terrorists recently.

"It was a gesture of goodwill," an MEA spokesman said.

The Data Darbar Sahib shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajweri, considered the patron saint of Lahore, was targeted by two suicide bombers on July 1 that killed 45 people and wounded over 200.

Krishna also met Awami National Party leader Haji Mohammad Adeel. Yesterday, he met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani yesterday.

The Minister said that he had been assured that Islamabad would pursue leads from Pakistani-American David Headley so as to "bring all the perpetrators of that horrific crime to justice."