Congress reiterates India's desire to maintain good relation with Pakistan

New Delhi, Apr 7 (ANI): Welcoming Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's day- long visit to India tomorrow, Congress party on Saturday said India always wanted to maintain positive and good relations with Pakistan.

"He (Zardari) is coming here on a private visit. India always wanted to maintain positive and good relation with all its neighbors including Pakistan but at the same time wants that no terrorism should be there," said Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi.

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.

On Jamaat-ud -Dawa (JD) chief Hafiz Saeed, Alvi said: "We had already demanded Hafiz Saeed from Pakistan. He should be handed over to Government of India."

When asked for comment on Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani's statement that issues related to Saeed are Pakistan's internal matter, Alvi said: " What Pakistan says, I will not comment upon it."

Gilani has openly backed Hafiz Saeed, and criticized the US bounty of 10 million dollars. Gilani earlier said all evidence against Hafiz Saeed should be handed over to Pakistan for the courts to consider since this is an internal matter of the country.

Hafiz Saeed is believed to be the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He is on India's most wanted list. (ANI)