By IANS,
Mohali : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said he was very grateful to Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for accepting his invitation to the India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal match in Mohali.
“I am very grateful to Prime Minister Gilani for having accepted my invitation to join me in watching this beautiful game of cricket,” Singh said in a statement to Doordarshan and Pakistan TV.
“Cricket has been a uniting factor, it has brought our two prime ministers together and I dare say that’s a very good beginning. Whatever be the differences between our two countries we have to find pathways to resolve them.
“And Gilani Sahib and I have had extensive discussions on all outstanding issues and we have reaffirmed our resolve that there are difficulties on the way but we will make every honest effort to overcome those difficulties.
“And the message from Mohali is that the people of India and Pakistan want to live in peace and amity and that the two prime ministers have committed their governments to work in that direction,” Singh added.
India Wednesday entered the cricket World Cup final after eight years, beating Pakistan by 29 runs in a closely contested semifinal that could have gone either way.