PM, Zardari may meet in Russia next week

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] is likely to meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari [ Images ] in Russia [ Images ] next week, according to a source in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance [ Images ] government.

However, the Prime Minister's Office refused to confirm or deny the news.

Dr Singh is scheduled to visit Yaketenaburg, an industrial town in Russia, on June 15-16 to attend the Brazil-Russia-India-China summit.
 
The PMO and the Ministry of External Affairs has, so far, refused to comment on whether Dr Singh will attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which is being hosted at the same venue.
 
India [ Images ], Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia are 'observer' countries at the SCO while Sri Lanka [ Images ] and Belarus will be the 'dialogue partners' this year. Heads of the governments of observer countries like Pakistan and Iran have attended the summits earlier.
 
This year, Zaradari is likely to attend the SCO. Dr Singh and Zardari's meeting might be scheduled on the sidelines of the SCO.

PM's spokesperson Deepak Sandhu refused to comment on the matter.