PMs hope Mohali will hasten peace process

Pakistan shares India’s sentiment that an atmosphere “free of terror” only can pave the way for better relations between the two countries, India said on Wednesday.

“Prime minister (Manmohan Singh) reiterated the need for an atmosphere free of terror in order to enable the true normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. Prime minister Gilani shared this (sentiment),” foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said after a meeting between Manmohan Singh and Gilani on the sidelines of the India-Pakistan World Cup cricket semi-final match in Mohali.

Against the backdrop of a gripping cricket match at Mohali, Singh and Gilani held wide ranging talks to bring in a ‘Mohali spirit’ to the relations between India and Pakistan, Rao said, adding that Gilani invited Singh to visit Pakistan during their meeting.

They also talked about resuming cricketing ties between the two countries as a step towards reducing the trust deficit. Rao said the two countries “have begun this year with a very positive agenda of contact and exchange”.

“The Mohali meeting reaffirmed the intentions of the two governments to take forward the process of normalisation of relations. Every such meeting generates positive momentum. This re-energises between India-Pakistan an understanding generated as a result of positive atmosphere… It is a good augury for the future."