Gilani leaves for India to see two countries’ “cricket clash”
ISLAMABAD, March 30 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani left here on Wednesday to Indian city Chandigarh on a day-long visit to witness the two cricket teams “clash” at the Mohali stadium.Gilani accompanied by over a 50-member delegation told reporters at the airport that his visit to Mohali was to “strengthen his resolve that dialogue and interaction can help both the countries resolve all issues in the interest of peace and prosperity of their peoples.” Terming his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh a seasoned politician with a very “positive approach”, Gilani thanked for inviting Pakistani leadership to see the match.
He said Dr Singh’s gesture reflected that he wanted to work for the peace and prosperity of the region.
“We both [Gilani and Manmohan] are committed towards achieving the same goal and to serve our people,” he said.
He said the Pakistan and India talks had been resumed and said the interior secretary-level talks concluded with a positive outcome.
Gilani said basically his visit to India was to witness the match between two countries and to express solidarity with the national team and to promote the cricket.
He said he was visiting India in view of the sentiments of the two nations.
He mentioned his telephone call to Pakistan team skipper Shahid Afridi who assured that the team was in high spirits.  He prayed to Allah for positive result of the visit.
He said besides cricket match, the visit would open up avenues to discuss various issues with India with time.      
The two leaders will watch the match and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will later host a dinner in the honour of Prime Minister Gilani.
Prime Minister Gilani is accompanied by Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Postal Services Sardar Alhaj Omar Gorage, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Engr.  Shaukatullah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Privatisation, Asfandyar Wali (ANP), Lt. Gen. Abdul Qadir Baloch (PML-N), Dr Farooq Sattar (MQM), Laeeq Ahmad Khan (JUI-F), Munir Orakzai (FATA) and Riaz Hussain Pirzada (PML-Q),  Parliamentary Secretary for Sports Dr. Lal Chand, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Qamar Zaman Kaira, MNA Sherry Rehman, Khawja Sohail Mansoor, Ahmad Mujataba Gilani and Sharmila Farooqi.