Islamabad Pakistan Thursday said the forthcoming meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will contribute to intra-regional peace, but made it clear that will not compromise on the "core issue" of Kashmir and will maintain its deterrence.
"We are of the view that the upcoming meeting between the president [Zardari] and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over lunch will contribute towards achieving the president's vision to promote intra-regional peace and prosperity in this part of the world," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.
He stressed that Pakistan is looking forward to a "constructive engagement between the two leaders" when Zardari goes to India on Sunday for a day-long private visit to offer prayers at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.
‘Bilateral relations'
Zardari, accompanied by a 40-member strong delegation, touches down on Sunday morning in New Delhi.
He will holds talks with Manmohan Singh at the latter's official residence and have lunch with him before flying to Ajmer.
The two sides have been keeping details of the visit under wraps. Basit, however, said the two leaders "would discuss all the issues which continue to take priority in our bilateral relations".
"These meetings at the summit level are always very helpful, but that does not mean that we have compromised on our principled positions on other issues, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Basit said in response to questions about Zardari's visit to India.
