New Delhi: In the first political contact after the April peace initiative, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shook hands with Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid who said he had delivered, "short, sweet and smart message" from the Pakistani leadership.

Rashid walked up to Vajpayee to greet him first as Information Ministers from South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) countries lined up for a group photograph soon after the SAARC Information Ministers Conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.

The Pakistani Minister, who stood next to Vajpayee and exchanged pleasantries, later told reporters that he has "conveyed to Prime Minister Vajpayee the good wishes of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali".

"We are waiting for his (Vajpayee) tour to the SAARC Summit" in Islamabad in January, he said.

PTI