ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has sent a message of good wishes to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for the new year.

“President Zardari will soon reciprocate the positive gesture of the Indian prime minister,” the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn.

“With all good wishes for the new year,” Prime Minister Singh said in his greetings to President Zardari.

The card carries the picture of a white dove with flowers in its beak and has been signed by Prime Minister Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

“We consider the good wishes sent by the Indian premier a positive gesture to de-escalate tension between the two countries,” the spokesman said.

He said a white dove on the card indicated that Dr Singh desired good relations between the two countries and peace in the region.