Pak PM hails Mohali talks as 'milestone'

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani Thursday described his interaction with the Indian
leadership in Mohali as a "milestone" in opening a new chapter
of good neighbourly relations and cooperation.
Gilani, in an official statement issued by his office
on Thursday, said the World Cup semi-final match in Mohali
provided a "very useful opportunity to the leadership of
Pakistan and India to get together and discuss the whole gamut
of bilateral relations".
"The Prime Minister has termed his interaction with
the Indian leadership as a milestone on the way of opening up
a new chapter of good neighbourly relations and cooperation
between the two countries," he said.
The warmth and hospitality shown by the Indian
leadership and people to Gilani, his entourage and Pakistan's
cricket team reflected "the shared sentiments of goodwill
between our two people which needs to be built upon for
sustained and long-lasting peace and amity between the two
countries", the statement quoted Gilani as saying.
Gilani visited India at the invitation of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh to watch Wednesday's keenly contested
cricket semi-final clash between the two countries, which
India won.
The Prime Minister will invite members of Pakistan's
cricket team, on their return to the country, to commend them
on their performance in the World Cup and to encourage them
for better results in future, the statement said.
The team is expected to arrive in Pakistan via Dubai
early Friday morning.