Invited by Sharif to visit Pakistan, says Mamata

Kolkata – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief has invited her to visit his country.

In a post on her Facebook page after receiving outgoing Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir in her office, Banerjee said he “has conveyed to me the invitation of the prime minister of Pakistan to visit their country at a convenient time”.

Bashir met Banerjee for about an hour along with his wife and two diplomats from the High Commission.

“The delegation has expressed their interest in cultural and other exchange programme in social sector with West Bengal,” Banerjee said in her post.

Terming the meeting as “cordial”, Bashir said Banerjee expressed a desire to visit Pakistan as she had never been there. “I welcomed her”.

Bashir is on his farewell tour in India. Veteran Pakistani diplomat Syed Ibne Abbas is slated to replace him.