New Delhi, Apr 9: India is maintaining silence on the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s meeting with Pakistan Premier, Syed Reza Gilani in Washington during the nuclear summit next week.
 The Prime Minister is leaving for Washington tomorrow to attend the summit, which is going to evolve strategy to check proliferation of nuclear weapons. Dr Manmohan Singh also met President Pratiba Patil and discussed international issues, besides Indo-Pak ties. There is a possibility that the two leaders may finally meet in Washington. The US President is meeting the two leaders separately.
 When asked whether the two leaders will meet on the margins of the summit, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said the Prime Minister has a number of bilateral meeting in Washington during the summit, which is  being attended by leaders of 44 countries.  These meeting are being  finalised in consultation with the officials of the concerned countries.
 “He will be happy to share the information when the meetings will be finalized”, he further stated, while avoiding direct reply on the Manmohan-Gilani meet”, he said.
 A few days back, top MEA official ruled out any bilateral meeting between the two leaders, stating Dr Manmohan Singh schedule in Washington was hectic. So there is no possibility for any bilateral meeting.  Soon after that, a report emanated from Washington that President Obama was making serious efforts to arrange meeting between the two leaders of the South Asia. The US Administration is keen that India and Pakistan should start their bilateral peace process This is necessary to focus more on anti-insurgency operation in the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST