Thursday, March 10 2005 17:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: : Extending an invitation to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to witness an Indo-Pak cricket match, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (March 10, 2005) said in Lok Sabha that it was his earnest desire that people and leaders of neighbouring countries should feel free to visit India whenever they want.

He also expressed confidence that time will heal wounds and create an environment of shared prosperity and peace in the sub-continent.

"Relations between nations are after all nothing more than relations between their peoples. I am sure time will work to heal our wounds and create an environment of shared prosperity and peace in the sub-continent in which we can all live and work for the greater good of our sub-continent," he said.

"I am very happy to inform the honourable members of the House that I have decided to invite President Musharraf to come to India and watch the cricket match between our two teams," Singh said while replying to a debate on the motion of thanks to the President for his address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

"I do hope that President Musharraf and his family enjoy their visit to our country," he said.

The Prime Minister said it was his "earnest desire" that the people "in our neighbouring countries and their leaders should feel free to visit us whenever they wish to do so".

"Be it watching a cricket match, be it to do some shopping or be it to meet friends and families, India is proud to be an open society and an open economy," he said.