India desires stable, peaceful, progressive Pak: Krishna

LAHORE: Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna Sunday termed his visit to Pakistan as fruitful and said his country wants a stable and peaceful Pakistan as its neighbor.

Krishna Sunday arrived here to wrap his three-day official visit. During the visit both countries signed the historic liberalized visa regime that will promote people-to-people contact between the two countries.

The Indian foreign minister also met Punjab Governor and chief minister and exchanged views on matters of mutual interests.

Krishna will visit historic sites in the capital city here before flying home.

"It is my earnest desire and the desire of Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India and the people of India that we would like to see a stable, peaceful, progressive Pakistan as our neighbor because that will be beneficial to the entire region," the Indian foreign minister told reporters at the Lahore airport.

Krishna referred to the signing of the lenient visa pact and a cultural promotion agreement and said that will boost cordial relationship between the two countries.

He was warmly received at the airport by Provincial Minister for Jail, Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry and senior officials.

The Indian foreign minister is scheduled to meet the main opposition leader, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. He has already met with some political leaders in Islamabad.