March, 31 2005	Thursday	20 Safar 1426

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

NEW DELHI, March 30: India and Pakistan have been jointly scouting for fresh dates for the postponed Saarc summit, with New Delhi indicating to Islamabad initially that mid-April was acceptable but then changed its mind to look for some other opportune date, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

The search for new dates is being seen as indicating India’s willingness to change its hard stand on the two issues over which it forced the postponement of the Saarc that was to be held in Dhaka on Feb 6.

It could also signal new legitimacy for King Gyanendra’s authoritarian measures through which he suspended civil rights in Nepal. His presence in Dhaka could trigger fresh ideas on how to deal with the Nepal imbroglio.

An authoritative insight into New Delhi’s thinking on the issue was given by Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in New Delhi on Wednesday after he met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“We discussed when the 13th Saarc summit can be convened. Both India and the Maldives are ready to meet any time convenient to other leaders,” President Gayoom said.