India-Pak PMs to dine together in Mohali

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani will have dinner together after the high-voltage World Cup cricket semifinal showdown between the two nations in Mohali on Wednesday, according to media reports.

The dinner will be hosted by Manmohan Singh, it said.

The Pakistani Prime Minister will flew in around 1030 am to Chandigarh on Mar 30 and then head for Mohali to watch the match along with Singh in Mohali.

The two leaders are also likely to meet before the match, media reports said.

Cricket diplomacy has found a new meaning with the proposed Mohali match meeting, amid an on-off relationship between the two South Asian neighbours, as the invitation of Singh to his Pakistani counterpart for watching the high profile World Cup match has been greeted with positivity by Pakistan.

According to Dawn, Raza Gilani said Monday said his meeting with Singh during the semi-final between India and Pakistan will help improve ties between the two nations.

While chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet he said ?cricket diplomacy? is an opportunity to “help improve our bilateral ties and hope that talks would further proceed.”

“The World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan is a timely opportunity for the two countries to show the world that they can play together as well as deliberate together on issues of national importance,” Gilani said.

Meanwhile, the two nations’ home secretaries met on Monday in New Delhi to discuss common issues, including terrorism and the 26/11 probe progress in Pakistan.

Later India’s Home Secretary G K Pillai said the talks were positive and in right direction.