Nitish Kumar likely to meet Zardari during Pakistan visit

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who left for New Delhi on Thursday morning on his way to Pakistan, is likely to meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf during his week-long goodwill trip to the neighbouring country.

"Nitish Kumar is set to meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf during his visit to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries," an official in the Chief Minister's Office said.

According to officials, the date and venue of the meetings has not been finalised yet.

During his visit, Kumar will pay floral tributes to Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah at his final resting place in Karachi on November 10.

"Nitish Kumar is scheduled to visit historical sites of the Indus Valley Civilization like Mohenjodaro and Harappa on November 11," said the official.

Nitish Kumar's week-long trip to Pakistan starts from November 9 and ends on November 16. He is heading an 11-member delegation comprising ministers and officials of the state government.

In August, a Pakistani delegation had visited Bihar and extended an invitation to Nitish Kumar on behalf of Pakistani Punjab's Chief Minister Mohammad Shahwaz Sharif, brother of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to visit the neighbouring country.