New Delhi: Tough posturing on Kashmir by India and Pakistan may cast a shadow over the two-day visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in New Delhi from Tuesday (Nov 23, 2004).

Spotlight: Kashmir is NOT negotiable

Coming in his capacity as SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Chairman, Aziz will hold wide-ranging discussions on Wednesday (Nov 24, 2004) with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he will also formally extend an invitation to the Indian leader to attend the SAARC Summit in Dhaka in January.

Bangladesh takes over the chairmanship of the regional grouping in Dhaka.

Aziz's visit comes close on the heels of assertions by Singh in Srinagar that there was no question of redrawing the international borders or further dividing the country on the basis of religion and in reaction President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan has not given up its demand for plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.

Musharraf had recently suggested at an Iftar party that India and Pakistan should identify some regions of Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), demilitarise them and grant them the status of independence or joint control or under UN mandate.

Following Singh's declaration, Musharraf has charged that the signals emanating from Indian leaders were not encouraging.

On his maiden visit to India, Aziz is expected to clarify to the Indian leadership the suggestion made by Musharraf.

Islamabad has indicated that he may also come up with fresh proposals on Kashmir and other issues.

Besides SAARC-related issues, both sides would delve at length on a host of bilateral issues.