PM wants prisoners treated humanely

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for "humanitarian" considerations to prevail when India and Pakistan take up the issue of release of prisoners caught up in the uneasy ties between the two sides.

Singh's statement on Monday evening was his first reaction to reports that Sarabjit Singh's execution had been put off "indefinitely" by Pakistan.

"India and Pakistan should deal with the issue on humanitarian grounds to ease the sufferings of the prisoners," Singh said.

Speaking to journalists at Rashtrapati Bhawan after a civil investiture ceremony, the prime minister praised the new government in Pakistan but sought to remain non-committal about his visit to Islamabad.

"I wish the government of Pakistan all the very best. The new dispensation in Pakistan has made a good start and demonstrated great statesmanship in dealing with the situation in a difficult environment," Singh said.

Reciprocal visit

Asked about his visit to Pakistan, he said: "Let the political situation in Pakistan settle down."

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has been to India in 2005 and a return visit by the Indian prime minister was expected before the term of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government comes to an end early next year.

Despite speculation in India and Pakistan about a possible visit by the Indian prime minister to Islamabad in the near future, Singh has refused to give any firm date for a possible visit.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to travel to Pakistan on May 21 to hold his first meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Shah Qureshi.

A day before the meeting, the foreign secretaries of the two countries are also scheduled to hold discussions in Islamabad and review the last round of the "Composite Dialogue" that includes all outstanding issues between the two sides, including Kashmir.