India External Affairs Minister SM Krishna?s is visiting Pakistan from today. His visit will is focused on reaching across the political aisle of Pakistan and engaging with leaders of different parties ahead of general elections due there early next year.
The meetings will pay much attention to bilateral issues on core concern of terrorism, progress on the liberalised visa regime agreement, expanding cultural exchanges and concessions facilitating travel across the border in Jammu and Kashmir for religious groups and trade. He will also have discussions with political leaders of mainly Punjab province Mr. Nawaz Sharief and Governor Latif Khosa.
He will meet foreign minister Hinna Rabbani Khar and During his two-day stay in Islamabad, Krishna is also scheduled to call on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, both of whom belong to the Pakistan People?s Party. The engagement also includes meeting the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party.
On Sunday when he returns, the Minister will spend a day in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province where he is scheduled to meet the Governor Latif Khosa and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is brother of former Pakistan Prime Minister and chief of the PML(N), Nawaz Sharif.
He was received at the Chaklala Air Base by officials of Foreign Office,Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal, Pakistan?s High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir and other high officials
