Sunday, April 3 2005 10:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A day after Pakistan refused to allow politicians from Jammu and Kashmir to travel to Muzaffarabad on the inaugural bus service, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Apr 3, 2005) said efforts would be made to persuade Islamabad to encourage people to people contact in the "widest possible sense of the term".

"Our approach is that there should be freer flow of people and ideas between India and Pakistan. So our effort will be to persuade Pakistan to encourage people to people contact in the widest possible sense of the term", he told reporters in New Delhi on arrival from a four-day visit to Mauritius.

Asked whether he would discuss the Kashmir issue with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf when he visits here to watch the One Day Indo-Pak cricket match on April 17, he said, "We are willing to discuss all issues which have a vital bearing on the relations between the two countries".

To a question about the upcoming visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, he said, "Our relations with China have grown economically. There is peace and tranquillity on the border. We will discuss on this occasion the broader framework of our relationship. I am very eagerly looking forward to welcome the Prime Minister to our country as an honoured guest."