...

Pakistani PM to watch cricket World Cup semifinal in India

Other News Materials 27 March 2011 12:10 (UTC +04:00)
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani will go to India to watch a cricket World Cup semifinal between the two countries, a government spokesman said Sunday, Xinhua reported.
Pakistani PM to watch cricket World Cup semifinal in India

Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani will go to India to watch a cricket World Cup semifinal between the two countries, a government spokesman said Sunday, Xinhua reported.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani to watch the semifinal between the two countries in the Indian city of Mohali on March 30.

Presidential Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that it was decided that in response to the Indian PM's invitation the Prime Minister of Pakistan will visit India to witness the semifinal.

The decision was made in a meeting between the President and the Prime Minister Saturday night, said the spokesman.

Pakistan defeated West Indies and India crushed world champion Australia to reach semifinal of the World Cup which is being jointly hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Pakistani cricket team has already arrived in Mohali for the upcoming match between Pakistan and India.

An Indian extremist group has threatened to disrupt the match, but the Indian Home Minister has assured security for the Pakistani players.

The Indian government has announced to grant 5,000 visas to Pakistani cricket fans for the match.

Cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan is initiated in 1980s by then Pakistani President General Zia-ul-Haq.

Top interior ministry officials of the two countries will hold two-day talks in New Delhi on March 28-29 to discuss anti-terror cooperation, marking resumption of the formal talks suspended after the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Latest

Latest