Indian PM extends good wishes to Pakistani leaders
By Syed Irfan Raza
Tuesday, 13 Jan, 2009 | 02:02 AM PST |
ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has extended a message of good wishes to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani for the year 2009 amid severe tension between the Pakistan and India that emerged after Mumbai attacks in November last.
President Asif Ali Zardari will reciprocate the positive gesture of Indian Prime Minister soon, Spokesman for the President Farhatullah Babar told Dawn on Monday.
With all good wishes for the new year, Prime Minister Singh said in a seasons greetings card addressed to President Zardari.
The greetings card carries a picture of a dove with some flowers in his beak on its front and it has been signed by Prime Minister Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.
We are considering the good wishes sent by Indian premier as a positive gesture to de-escalate tension between the two countries, the presidents spokesman said.
He said a white dove on the front of the card symbolizes that Dr Singh desired for good relations between Pakistan and India and urged for the peace in the region instead of heading towards any conflict.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Asif Ali Zardari, who met on the sidelines of annual UN General Assembly session in New York in September, discussed bilateral issues and pledged to combat terrorism jointly during that meeting.
The leadership of Pakistan and India have been stressing on the continuity of peace process between the two countries, with President Zardari always emphasizing that the peace process should not be hijacked by non-state actors.
Now the good wishes extended by Prime Minister Singh to President Zardari through a greetings card, having a dove printed on its front side, also exhibit the same desire of peace and harmony between the two South Asian neighbours.