Egypt prez's visit: India concerned over Pakistan stopover

Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi will be the first among the Arab spring leaders to visit India. But his itinerary in South Asia adds to New Delhi's concerns over the new Islamist regimes Arab spring ushered in could be more inclined towards Pakistan. Jayanth Jacob reports.

Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi will be the first among the Arab spring leaders to visit India. But his itinerary in South Asia adds to New Delhi's concerns over the new Islamist regimes Arab spring ushered in could be more inclined towards Pakistan.

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Morsi, arriving here on Monday after visiting Pakistan could well be the case in point as Islamabad is his first port of call in South Asia.

"President Morsi's decision to choose Pakistan as the first South Asian country for a bilateral visit manifests Egypt's desire to add a new chapter to its bilateral ties with Pakistan," Pakistan foreign office said.

Egypt, a co-founder of non-aligned movement with India is a long-standing friend. The last bilateral visit to Pakistan from Egypt was by Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960s. But the bilateral visits between India and Egypt have been more robust.

Since the 1980s, there have been four prime ministerial visits from India to Egypt and there were three Egyptian presidential visits to India during the same period.

Egypt has been keen on benefiting from India's advantage in the information technology centre. India will also launch a nano-satellite for Egypt.

Morsi will be in India from March 18 to 21.