India, Pakistan PMs Extend Each Other Invitation For Official Visits

New Delhi, Sept 30, IRNA -- Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan Sunday extended invitations to each other for official visits as they meet for the first time to discuss ways to normalize bilateral ties. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the margins on UN General Assembly session. Sharif invited Prime Minister Singh to visit Pakistan and Singh invited Sharif to visit India. Both accepted the invitations, pti reported quoting National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon as said during a media briefing after the meeting. No dates have been set yet, he said. Menon also told a media briefing at which both Indian and Pakistani journalists were present that the meeting was cordial, useful and constructive. Singh also demanded effective action to bring to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, he said the talks that came against the grim backdrop of twin terror attacks near Jammu on Thursday. Menon said the immediate priority is to get out of the situation which the two countries were because of cross border terrorism and LoC ceasefire violations. Singh told Sharif that peace on LoC is a precondition for improvement in ties. The two leaders agreed to see improvement in situation on the LoC where ceasefire violations are taking place on the Pakistani side. Asked how hopeful the Indian side was about Pakistan taking action on Indias concern, Menon said proof of success and usefulness of the meetings would be known only in the months to come. He said both leaders desire to have better relations but no decision on another meeting between them was taken at this stage./end