PMO terms media report Manmohan Singh contacting Kayani false

New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office today denied a media report that Manmohan Singh had contacted Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani before the Mohali meeting between the premiers of the two nations. In a statement, Dr Singh’s Media Adviser Harish Khare said, “We have seen media reports quoting a British newspaper saying that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh contacted Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani before the Mohali meeting between the two Prime Ministers. The report is false.” London-based ‘The Times’ had yesterday reported that Dr Singh had appointed an “unofficial envoy” to make contact with Mr Kayani, who exercises de facto control over Pakistan’s foreign policy. The talks, through a back channel, have encouraged the UK and US to believe that the countries’ competition for influence in Afghanistan could be better managed during efforts to start a peace process, the media report had said. Cricket diplomacy initiated by Dr Singh which saw Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani coming to Mohali to watch the high-octane semi-final match between India and Pakistan in the cricket World Cup last month, has given rise to hopes of snow melting between the two neighboring countries. (UNI)