Zeenews Bureau
Jaipur: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has left the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer in Rajasthan after offering prayers.
The Indian government had ruled out any diplomatic talks with the Pakistani Prime Minister, who is on a day-long private visit to India.
Here is the live coverage of the visit of the Pakistani PM to India:
The Pak PM has left the Ajmer shrine after offering prayers. He will now fly to Jaipur in a helicopter and then leave for Islamabad at around 6.10 pm.
In his message at the shrine, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf sought peace and happiness for his country Pakistan as well as the entire world.
Ashraf offers 42-metre long chadar weighing 35 kilograms at the shrine.
Pak PM Ashraf has reached the Ajmer shrine and is currently offering his prayers.
Amidst tight security, the Pak PM's cavalcade is now on way to Dargah Sharif.
The three Indian Air Force helicopters are flying the Pak PM along with his wife and son, and his 40-member delegation, from Jaipur landed at Googhra helipad, which is 12 km away from Ajmer.
Khurshid also cleared that issue of terrorism was not discussed with the visiting Pakistani Prime Minister. "This was not the occasion nor did I have the authority to discuss issues like terrorism with the Pakistan PM."
Addressing mediapersons, Khurshid informed that the Pakistani PM has left for Ajmer. “We have welcomed him and hosted lunch for him.” He also said that there was no discussion about ties between the two nations since it was the Pak PM’s personal visit. “Ajmer Sharif shrine is a major one for Sufi tradition. Many people from Pakistan come to the shrine. The PM came as one of them," he added.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has arrived back at Jaipur airport to fly to Ajmer.
"Khwaja wants him to come" was how External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today welcomed the Pakistani PM in Jaipur.
Protest against the Pakistani PM's visit outside Rambagh Palace hotel.
Three helicopters will fly the Pakistani Prime Minister's entourage to Ajmer.
Salman Khurshid to address press conference at 2 pm.
According to reports, Salman Khurshid preferred Rajasthani menu at the lunch he had hosted for the Pakistani PM. Dal Bati Churma, Lal Maas to Ker Sangri ki sabzi, Papad ki sabzi, and Sev Tamatar were some of the dishes served. Rasmalai was among the deserts that were served to the Pakistani Prime Minister.
Salman Khurshid shakes hands with the Pakistani PM for shutterbugs.
Ashraf reaches the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur.
Commenting on the Pakistani PM's visit, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said: "We had conveyed our feelings over this, this is a political decision. Won't comment on this."
Taking potshots at Khurshid for hosting a lunch for the visiting Pakistan Prime Minister, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha said this move is against the feelings of the people of the country who are deeply hurt over the January 2013 beheading of two Indian soldiers.
Ashraf and his entourage are on way to the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur to have lunch with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
The Pakistani PM was received by Rajasthan government officials, not Salman Khurshid, at Sanganer airport in Jaipur.
After nearly an hour’s delay, Ashraf arrived in a Pakistan Air Force aircraft at around 11.55 am with his family members and a delegation.
The flight of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who was scheduled to arrive in Jaipur at 11 am, has been delayed. He is coming with a 48-member delegation.
Local lawyers and the Ajmer Dargah market association have joined the protest against the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The Pakistani PM will meet Salman Khurshid over lunch around 12 noon before flying to Ajmer in a helicopter at around 2:45 pm. He will return to Jaipur at around 5:10 pm and leave for Islamabad at around 6:15 pm.
The Ajmer district administration has deployed more than 1,000 policemen in and around the shrine.
Before leaving for Jaipur to receive the Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Salman Khurshid said today: “It’s in our culture to welcome our guests with open arms. Whoever speaks about it, won’t worry us”.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will host lunch for the Pakistani Prime Minister at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur.
BJP Member of Parliament Kirti Azad told a news agency: “First, no serious action has been taken against the beheading of the Indian jawan at the LoC, the perpetrators of 26/11 are still roaming free, we seem to be coward and here we have the Foreign Minister inviting the Prime minister of Pakistan. This shows that we are proving to be a coward state.”
The shrine's Anjuman committee has decided to welcome Ashraf.
The diwan is the first person to welcome the head of other nations on the main Nizam gate as they arrive at the shrine.
On Friday, a prominent shrine official decided to boycott Ashraf’s visit to protest the January 2013 beheading of two Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. "I have decided to boycott him when he comes here along with his family to perform prayers. I have not even asked for the pass to be in the dargah premises when the Prime Minister reaches here," Diwan Sayed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan had said in a statement.
First Published: Saturday, March 09, 2013, 08:21