Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz on telephone here today evening and welcomed him and Mrs. Aziz to New Delhi. Dr. Singh said that he was looking forward to their meeting on Wednesday. He also conveyed his greetings to Pakistan President Mr. Pervez Musharraf.

Dr. Singh told Mr. Aziz that the world has "lived through times where what was simply unacceptable in international relations has become a norm. Who could say some twenty years ago that the Berlin Wall would be a thing of the past." Dr. Singh said that his "hope and prayer" is that "we can set in motion a similar process in this sub-continent. I earnestly and sincerely will work to that end."

Reciprocating warmly to Mr. Singh's call, Mr. Aziz conveyed President Musharraf's "warm regards" and said, "I know that having you here at the helm of affairs is a source of strength to all of us."