Sharif in favour of no visas for travel between India, Pak
Highlighting the need to increase people-to-people contacts, former Premier and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif today favoured abolition of visas for travel between India and Pakistan.
By PTI |
ISLAMABAD: Highlighting the need to increase people-to-people contacts, former Premier and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif today favoured abolition of visas for travel between India and Pakistan.
During a meeting here with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Sharif, whose party is a key member of Pakistan's ruling coalition, said there is a need to increase trade and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
"Sharif told me that there is no need for visas between India and Pakistan," Deora said after the meeting.
The Petroleum Minister is here for talks on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline and Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline projects.
He met Sharif at the Punjab House here following talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khwaja Asif on the IPI pipeline. During the talks, the two sides achieved consensus on basic issues related to the pipeline and agreed to begin work on it next year.
Deora also met the ruling PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari last night. During the meeting, Deora condoled the death of Zardari's wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto. He also congratulated Zardari on the PPP's victory in the February 18 general election.
Deora's visit marked the first formal contact between the Indian government and Pakistan's new ruling coalition that assumed office last month. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Islamabad next month to resume the composite dialogue process.
During a meeting here with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Sharif, whose party is a key member of Pakistan's ruling coalition, said there is a need to increase trade and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
"Sharif told me that there is no need for visas between India and Pakistan," Deora said after the meeting.
The Petroleum Minister is here for talks on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline and Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline projects.
He met Sharif at the Punjab House here following talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khwaja Asif on the IPI pipeline. During the talks, the two sides achieved consensus on basic issues related to the pipeline and agreed to begin work on it next year.
Deora also met the ruling PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari last night. During the meeting, Deora condoled the death of Zardari's wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto. He also congratulated Zardari on the PPP's victory in the February 18 general election.
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Deora's visit marked the first formal contact between the Indian government and Pakistan's new ruling coalition that assumed office last month. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Islamabad next month to resume the composite dialogue process.
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