President Asif Ali Zardari will on Sunday become the first Pakistani head of state since 2005 to visit arch-rival India when he makes a trip that includes lunch with prime minister Manmohan Singh.
During what officials from both sides describe as a ‘private’ one-day visit, Zardari will be the guest of the Indian premier in New Delhi before heading to an important Muslim shrine in Ajmer to offer prayers.
The trip, which was confirmed this week after leaks in the press, has received a cautious welcome from analysts who say it reflects some improvement in ties since the 2008 Mumbai attacks allegedly by Pakistan-based militants.
But they warned little progress could be expected on sensitive topics such as the disputed region of Kashmir and Pakistani militant activity against India that make the cross-border relationship one of the most dangerous in the world.