December 5, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 10, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee formally confirmed on Thursday his participation in the 12th Saarc summit being held in Islamabad from Jan 4 to 6.

Pakistan received this communication through the Indian High Commission here and was quick to welcome the much-awaited formal confirmation.

Prime Minister Vajpayee in his letter said he was happy to confirm his participation and was committed to regional cooperation, progress and prosperity in accordance to the Saarc charter.

Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan in his comments said: “Pakistan welcomes Mr Vajpayee’s confirmation of his participation in the forthcoming summit. There had been some uncertainty about Prime Minister Vajpayee’s participation but with this confirmation all speculation should come to an end.”

The spokesman added: “Pakistan as the host is making every effort to make the summit successful. In this regard, we need active cooperation of all South Asian nations including India.”

Indian Deputy High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan delivered Mr Vajpayee’s letter of confirmation to director-general (South Asia) Jalil Abbas Jilani at the foreign office at around 11.30am on Thursday.

The confirmation comes exactly one month before the 12th Saarc summit and four months after Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali’s letter of invitation to the Indian prime minister was delivered through diplomatic channels.

Pakistan’s one-liner official response to the Indian prime minister’s seven-line letter of confirmation addressed to Prime Minister Jamali said: “Pakistan welcomes the Indian prime minister’s confirmation of his participation in the summit.”

India’s formal communication comes in response to Prime Minister Jamali’s invitation letter of Aug 6 handed over to the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad by the foreign office.

Sources said the tone of Mr Vajpayee’s letter, in which he had stated that India had always endeavoured to strengthen the Saarc process, was friendly.

It is learnt that during his 30-minute meeting with Mr Abbas Jilani, Mr Raghavan inquired about arrangements and programme of the forthcoming Saarc summit.

The sources said while no details were available about of the size of the official Indian delegation, it was expected that it would comprise over 30 members. However, officials here confirmed that a 100-member strong Indian media team would be coming to the federal capital to cover the summit and related events.

Preparatory meetings for the summit will begin in Islamabad from Dec 29.