In unusual comments at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) forum, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday talked about strained relations between India and Pakistan, saying that he hoped that Thursday's meeting between the two countries' Prime Ministers will resolve their differences.

Addressing the 16th SAARC Summit, Nasheed said he hopes that leaders of India and Pakistan will have effective conversation.

Nasheed, who spoke extempore, said he hoped that the "conversation will lead to greater dialogue between India and Pakistan."

The remarks came as a surprise as normally bilateral issues and relations are not raked up in the multilateral forum of SAARC.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is meeting his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday.

The comments also reflected the common feeling that the relations between India and Pakistan mostly overshadow SAARC meetings.