Singh, Gilani to lunch before cricket clash at Mohali

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani will have lunch together before the India-Pakistan cricket world cup semi-final match tomorrow.

Singh will be reaching Mohali around 1 pm. Moreover, since the match is unlikely to finish before 10 30 pm, it is likely Gilani and his entourage will spend the night in Chandigarh.

However, if Gilani had taken advantage of his visit to India to make a trip to New Delhi, it would have been a major diplomatic success. But he will not be coming to Delhi for a formal visit. Neither country wants to bite off more than it can chew. Top political analysts have advised against expecting any big breakthrough in relations.

“This is a social visit. Both sides are trying to make India-Pakistan friendship an acceptable concept in each others’ country. That’s all the visit means,” said a Cabinet minister.

Singh has held discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. He has managed to get political and administrative go-ahead before sending the invite across the border.

However, the PM was keen to get advice. “What if they rake up some issue?” he asked a Cabinet colleague. So, the advice: “Don’t turn the bonhomie over watching a cricket match into a summit meeting. We have had long rounds of talks. Now, Pakistan has to do something that is constructive and visible”.

The National Security Advisory Board also met Singh. While Sonia Gandhi will be going to Mohali, Priyanka and family will stay put in Delhi.

Much of the political friendliness was evident in the administrative sphere during talks between the home secretaries of the two countries today. Home Secretary GK Pillai and Pakistan Interior Secretary Chaudhary Qamar Zaman discussed a wide range of issues, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Samjhauta Express blasts. However, Zaman, clearly conscious that he should not strike a wrong note, made all the right noises and praised Singh for extending the invite for Wednesday's 'mother of all clashes'. Both sides reiterated that the talks were positive. The parleys will continue on the morrow.