ID :
170937
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 09:11
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/170937
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Pakistan confirms Indian PM’s cricket invitations
Islamabad, March 26, IRNA -- Pakistan Friday confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has invited President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to watch the next week cricket match between the two countries in the Indian city of Mohali.
The traditional rivals Pakistan and Indian cricket teams will face each other in semi-final of the Cricket World Cup on March 30.
TV channels reported that the Indian Prime Minister invited the
Pakistani leaders to accompany him watch the match between the two teams.
The spokesperson of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Ms. Tehmeena Janjua, told the media that the invitations have been received and are being sent to the office of the President and the Prime Minister.
“The President and the Prime Minister would make decision,” she said.
Pakistan defeated West Indies and India crushed world champion Australia to reach semi-finals of the World Cup Cricket. The World Cup is being jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Pakistani cricket team arrived in India on Friday under tight security and the team will hold practice on Saturday.
Pakistani ambassador in New Delhi, Shahid Malik, has said that the Pakistan-India cricket match is very important for bilateral relations.
An Indian extremist group has threatened to disrupt the match but the Indian Home Minister has assured Pakistan of security for the Pakistani players.
There is enthusiasm for the clash in both countries and Pakistanis anxiously await the match and many want their team must win the do-or-die match.
Indian media reports that all tickets have already purchased for the March 30th match and the people were trying to buy tickets for the match.
Indian government has announced to relax visas for Pakistani and will grant 5000 visas to Pakistanis for the match.
Cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan is not new but also in the '80s, then Pakistani military President General Zia-ul-Haq had initiated the cricket diplomacy.
Top interior ministry officials of the two countries will hold two-day talks in New Delhi later this month to discuss anti-terror cooperation and other important issues. The talks will mark resumption of the formal talks for the first time after the 2008 Mumbai attacks./end
The traditional rivals Pakistan and Indian cricket teams will face each other in semi-final of the Cricket World Cup on March 30.
TV channels reported that the Indian Prime Minister invited the
Pakistani leaders to accompany him watch the match between the two teams.
The spokesperson of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Ms. Tehmeena Janjua, told the media that the invitations have been received and are being sent to the office of the President and the Prime Minister.
“The President and the Prime Minister would make decision,” she said.
Pakistan defeated West Indies and India crushed world champion Australia to reach semi-finals of the World Cup Cricket. The World Cup is being jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Pakistani cricket team arrived in India on Friday under tight security and the team will hold practice on Saturday.
Pakistani ambassador in New Delhi, Shahid Malik, has said that the Pakistan-India cricket match is very important for bilateral relations.
An Indian extremist group has threatened to disrupt the match but the Indian Home Minister has assured Pakistan of security for the Pakistani players.
There is enthusiasm for the clash in both countries and Pakistanis anxiously await the match and many want their team must win the do-or-die match.
Indian media reports that all tickets have already purchased for the March 30th match and the people were trying to buy tickets for the match.
Indian government has announced to relax visas for Pakistani and will grant 5000 visas to Pakistanis for the match.
Cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan is not new but also in the '80s, then Pakistani military President General Zia-ul-Haq had initiated the cricket diplomacy.
Top interior ministry officials of the two countries will hold two-day talks in New Delhi later this month to discuss anti-terror cooperation and other important issues. The talks will mark resumption of the formal talks for the first time after the 2008 Mumbai attacks./end
