SM Krishna, Shah Mehmood Qureshi have chance encounter at UN parking lot

External affairs minister SM Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi have met in a "chance encounter" at the UN headquarters parking lot here while coming out of two separate meetings.

Both ministers yesterday greeted each other warmly and made inquiries about their stay in New York so far, Indian envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri said.

Krishna then asked Qureshi about the flood situation in Pakistan and how the relief efforts were coming along. Qureshi, in turn, spoke about the steps his government was taking and also thanked India for its aid of $20 million routed through the UN.

"It was a chance encounter and I woundn't want to read too much into it. Our Minister was waiting for his vehicle when foreign minister Qureshi arrived. He saw external affairs minister from a distance, came upto him, and greeted him very warmly," Puri said.

Krishna was coming out of the UN headquarters after a meeting with British Secretary of State William Hague, he said, and Qureshi appeared to have come out of the general assembly Hall.

Krishna and Qureshi are here to attend the opening week of the general assembly. Krishna is here till the 29th and Qureshi is here till the 30th. 

The possibilities of a meeting between the two leaders are still being explored through diplomatic channels though "there is no decision as yet."