New Delhi, April 01: Acknowledging that cricket has become a uniting factor for the India and Pakistan, prime minister Manmohan Singh during a dinner meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at Mohali on Wednesday, said the sporting links between the two countries should be normalised as early as possible.
The two premieres also talked about ending Pakistan’s isolation in cricket terms of hosting matches while discussing “reconciliation” and “healing wounds.”
Stressing how important and good sporting contacts can be, Gilani said, it would be “very nice” if the Indian cricket team could go and play Pakistan in Pakistan.
According to Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao that such contacts contribute a great deal in cementing relationships and understanding issues even as she clarified that India hasn’t left behind the memories of 26/11.
It is learnt that Singh mentioned to Gilani that one of his forefathers Miam Mir laid the foundation of the Golden temple at Amritsar. “That is the significance of reconciliation and healing wounds,” Manmohan told Gilani.
Singh said that an exchange between Parliamentarians of the two countries can be good channel of strengthening dialogues process. Taking cue, the chairman of Lok Sabha promptly invited one such delegation from Pakistan.
–Agencies