Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani are “most likely to fly together” and watch the Pakistan-India cricket World Cup semi-final with PM Manmohan Singh in Mohali on Wednesday, official sources said.
“It is almost final that both will go. But in any eventuality Prime Minister Gilani will not miss the event,” a senior government official close to the decision-makers told this newspaper.
He added, “The Prime Minister will go to Mohali even if President Zardari stays back. There are more chances than not that both will go. This will also provide them a chance to discuss bilateral matters.”
President Zardari and PM Gilani are understood to have discussed the issue and to have decided in principle to accept the friendly gesture from Dr Manmohan Singh.
“They were very happy with the invitation but the only hurdle was engagements. Both have decided to take out time nonetheless to give a positive response to India. Unless something extraordinary happens, both will fly to India,” the official said.
Mr Gilani, who was on two-day visit to Uzbekistan, was informed about the invitation on Friday evening during his visit to a university campus. He responded with a broad smile and said that it was an interesting gesture. Dr Manmohan Singh had extended the invitation to Mr Zardari and Mr Gilani simultaneously, something extraordinary, since normally such an invitation is extended to only one dignitary.