Gilani to join Manmohan at Mohali

Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to watch the cricket World Cup semi-final match between Pakistan and India in Mohali on March 30.

Gilani met last night President Asif Ali Zardari to decide on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh?s invitation to the semi-final clash between the two South Asian rivals.

Gilani flew back to Islamabad from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Saturday afternoon.

According to Pakistan media, Gilani will informally meet Singh during the match and the same will be followed by a formal meeting.

Pakistan’s Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Pakistan welcomes Manmohan Singh’s invitation to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the match in Mohali.

Singh on Friday invited Pakistani leaders to the Indo-Pak semi-final clash, a gesture that could play sweetener to their on-off diplomatic relationship.

Formal invitations were sent for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his wife for the eagerly-awaited match at Mohali in Punjab on Mar 30 which Singh will also be attending.

Singh wrote in the invitation to Gilani: ?I propose to be at Mohali to watch the World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan to be held on 30th March. There is huge excitement….and we are all looking forward to a great game of cricket, that will be a victory for sport.?

?It gives me great pleasure to invite you and your gracious wife to visit Mohali and join me, my wife and the millions of fans from our two countries to watch the match,? he said.

The World Cup has been the first visit by the Pakistani team after the 2008 Mumbai attack when ties between the two nations suffered a huge setback in wake of the plot that left over 170 people dead which had largely been planned on the country?s soil.

In February this year the two sides announced the revival of the peace talks following a meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan in Thimpu, Bhutan at a conference and the Pakistani Foreign Minister is expected to visit India in July.

The peace talks between the two countries over issues ranging from the disputed territory of Kahsmir, cross-border terrorism and water sharing, known as ?composite dialogue?, were snapped following the 2008 attack.

The diplomatic gesture from the Indian Prime Minister is being seen as a move that could add to a smoother return to the dialogue process.

The match itself is being seen as one of legendary proportions as the two long-standing rivals face off in a knockout clash with the winner getting to play the finals. Needless to say tickets for the showdown have been sold out.

India has issued 6500 visas to Pakistani cricket fans.