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Musharraf keeps option of extending summit open

Josy Joseph in Agra

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan are likely to hold another round of one-to-one talks on Monday morning, the Pakistani Army's spokesman, Major General Rashid Qureshi, said on Sunday.

Gen Qureshi said the Pakistani leader has also kept the option of extending his stay in India open.

Gen Musharraf is likely to make that decision on Monday, he hinted.

The general is due to visit the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer on Monday evening, after which he is scheduled to return to Islamabad from Jaipur.

The two sides are likely to issue a short joint statement on Monday, external affairs ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao added.

She said the two leaders met on Sunday for one and a half hours on a one-to-one basis and for over an hour of delegation-level talks. The talks were held in a "very cordial, frank and constructive manner".

Rao said the president of Pakistan had extended an invitation to the prime minister of India to visit Pakistan, which had been accepted.

ALSO SEE:
Full text of the external affairs ministry statement

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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