I am happy to be here and this is my first visit to Islamabad. I am carrying the letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inviting H.E Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to attend the 14th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Delhi on 3rd and 4th April of this year. I would also extend invitation to H.E Foreign Minister Kasuri to attend the 28th SAARC Council of Ministers Meeting which would be preceding the Summit. I would also like to take the opportunity of calling on H.E President, Prime Minister and I will have discussions with my colleague H.E Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Naturally, matters of mutual interest and our bilateral relations will be discussed. We have made reasonable progress in three rounds of composite dialogue which is going on between India and Pakistan at the level of the Foreign Secretary, the last in November. The review of the third round of composite dialogue took place and it ended on a positive note. During my visit, I would also like to share the perception of the leaders of Pakistan on these issues. One point that I would like to emphasise, and would like to ensure, is that we are seeking the cooperation of all SAARC partner countries that the 14th Summit of SAARC should give a clear signal for removing the barriers and improving the connectivity in the subcontinent to ensure free flow of trade, commerce, goods, people and ideas. I strongly believe that this region has tremendous potential in building up its economy and if we can effectively operationalise SAFTA, it would be beneficial to each member country belonging to SAARC which is now an extended family, in the sense, that Afghanistan would be joining the Summit as the 8th member and, in addition, there will be Observers from Japan, USA and UK.

Thank you for the time.