Advani urges India to press Pakistan to act on extremist militant havens

Mumbai, Apr 7 (ANI): Before Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari's arrival in India on a day-long visit on Sunday, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani has urged the Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Government to ask Pakistan to act on extremist militant havens if it wants to boost bilateral ties.

"I would like the government to again tell him (Zardari) that to ensure positive bilateral ties between India and Pakistan, he must fulfill the promises made in the joint statement made after the meeting of the then President of Pakistan and the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Advani told media here.

"In that joint statement, Pakistan had assured that its territory would not be used for anti-India militancy. Asif Ali Zardari should fulfill this assurance and eliminate the militant infrastructure thriving in Pakistan," Advani added.

During his visit, Zardari will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his official residence before proceeding to Jaipur and Ajmer. At Ajmer, he will offer prayers at the shrine of the Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Zardari had earlier visited the shrine in 2005, with his wife, former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Though Zardari's visit is personal in nature, it is bound to have strong ramifications for the two nations. (ANI)