 | « Back to article | Print this article |
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has still to decide on whether to accept an invitation from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to visit Pakistan to watch a match of the forthcoming cricket series between the two countries.
Pakistan's foreign office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said Singh had accepted a longstanding invitation to visit Pakistan though he has never committed to any date, and on Saturday Musharraf extended an informal invitation to watch a one-day match during India's current tour of Pakistan.
"But it remains to be decided when he will come or which match he would prefer to watch," she said.
Cricket historically has played a big role in improving diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries with President Musharraf also visiting Delhi last year to watch a one-day international between the two teams.
In 2004, the Indian team's first visit to Pakistan in 14 years played a big role in increasing people to people contact and boosting the peace process.
In 1987 Pakistan's late President Zia-ul-Haq had also flown to India in the midst of a cricket series to watch a match during a period of tense relations between both countries.