Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has convened an all party meeting on May 5 to discuss the stand to be taken by Pakistan in talks with India, the state television reported.

Jamali told a public meeting at Mansehra in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on May 4 that he has invited the ruling coalition and Opposition parties to discuss Pakistan's response to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's offer of talks and subsequent announcements by the Indian leader.

Leaders of Pakistan's political parties who have representation in the National Assembly would be invited for the May 5 meeting to be held in Islamabad, the TV reported.

Ahead of Jamali's announcement about his plans to hold an all party meeting, officials of the Pakistan Foreign office said that Pakistan has already decided to appoint a new High Commissioner to head its High Commission in New Delhi.

The announcement by Jamali that he planned to discuss the stand to be taken by Pakistan comes ahead of his talks with US Secretary of State, Colin Powell that he would announce a set of measures aimed at creating congenial atmosphere and promoting peace and security between the two countries.

His references to words like congenial atmosphere to promote peace and security raised hopes that Jamali would be announcing specific steps aimed at allaying Indian concerns about cross border infiltration.

PTI