India's PM calls for end to rivalries

India’s prime minister called on South Asia’s nations to put aside a long history of suspicion and “petty rivalries” and embrace a future of trust and understanding, before a historic meeting with his Pakistani counterpart.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee called on the seven heads of state gathered in the Pakistani capital Islamabad for a key summit to work together to fight poverty and improve the lives of their impoverished people, and pledged US $100m to fund a poverty alleviation task force.