India-Pakistan World Cup 2011 semi-final: Manmohan Singh's invite to gilani first of more such steps

NEW DELHI: The meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday may see some confidence building measures (CBMs) being agreed upon to take forward people-to-people contacts. (Click here for full coverage of India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal)

Indications of such a step came from top officials who, after the “positive” conclusion of home secretary-level talks on Tuesday, said “there is something more to come” after the Singh-Gilani meeting in Mohali.

“The announcement of CBMs may come after their meeting during dinner,” a top official said. Besides the PMs, a number of top political leaders from both sides are expected to reach Mohali to watch the semifinal on Wednesday.

Sources said Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik , who came under fire for warning Pakistani players to desist from match-fixing – will be in Mohali along with his wife. Former Pakistani information minister Sherry Rahman has also indicated her plans to be in Mohali, they added.

Singh will reach Mohali around 2 pm after a short drive from Chandigarh airport and receive Gilani and his entourage, comprising nearly 50 dignitaries, at the entrance of the stadium. Both leaders will proceed to the ground where they will be introduced to the players of the two teams before the start of the match at 2.30 pm.

Singh will host a dinner for Gilani probably during the mid-innings break but officials said the timing was “flexible” and could be altered according to requirement . The Prime Minister’s wife Gursharan Kaur will host a separate dinner for Fauzia Gilani.

Sources said Gilani, after landing at Chandigarh airport , will go to Hotel Taj before arriving at the stadium. A C-130 aircraft carrying an advance team of Pakistani officials including security personnel has reached Chandigarh , they added.

“Pakistani security officials had meetings with their Indian counterparts over the arrangements on Tuesday,” an official said.