RAWALPINDI, Aug 10: Laloo Prasad Yadav, head of the Indian delegation, on Sunday evening made a surprise visit to Lal Haveli and held a meeting with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Hundreds of people gathered at Lal Haveli on hearing about the arrival of Laloo, the chief of Rashtriya Janata Dal and former chief minister of Bihar. Traffic in the area came to a standstill.

Laloo Prasad on reaching Lal Haveli asked about Sheikh Rashid. The minister, who at the time was at a gymnasium, cut short his stay there and drove back to the Lal Haveli.

Sheikh Rashid and Laloo warmly hugged each other and exchanged pleasantries.

Laloo Prasad said politicians of India and Pakistan should sit together to resolve mutual differences as other powers were taking advantage of tension between them. He called for more efforts for creating a peaceful atmosphere in South Asia.

As initiatives for peace are being taken, the popular Indian politician said both countries would hopefully settle the contentious issues through negotiations.

Sheikh Rashid said there was a desire in both the countries to settle disputes but the Kashmir issue was a matter of national honour for Pakistanis and bilateral relations cannot become normal without its resolution.

He said that Kashmir issue would always be on top of the agenda of any level of talks.

Welcoming the Indian delegates to Pakistan, the minister said the visit was reflective of improvement in relations between the two neighbours.

VISITS ITWAR BAZAAR: Laloo Prasad Yadav visited the capital’s central G-6 Itwar Bazaar in the afternoon.

The Indian MP, followed by a large corps of cameramen and photographers, went around various stalls of fresh vegetables and grocery and introduced himself to the vendors.

Striking a goodwill note at one point, he said “we are all neighbours.”—APP