By IANS
Lahore : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may visit Pakistan after the latter has gone through its general elections, likely early next year, says Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.
Kasuri has in recent times said that a visit by Manmohan Singh would be a pre-requisite for a resolution of the Kashmir dispute and for improvement of ties between the two South Asian neighbours.
Addressing a public meeting Sunday in Kasur, him hometown in Punjab, Kasuri confirmed that Pakistan was on the verge of coming under Emergency rule but US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dissuaded President Pervez Musharraf from taking such a measure.
The Emergency “could not be declared” after Rice telephoned Musharraf, Kasuri told the rally, according to ARY television.
Kasuri’s statement on a visit by Manmohan Singh comes amid reports that the composite Indo-Pakistan dialogue had slowed down because of Islamabad’s domestic woes and changed security perceptions.
Kasuri also said that Pakistan had taken strong exception to statements by US presidential candidates highly critical of Islamabad.