'Let's not look back in rear view mirror'

"This marks a new beginning and let's not look back in the rear view mirror," was the message Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Khaleda Zia's message in her meetings with the top leaders here, signalling a change in her party's anti-India stance.

"This marks a new beginning and let's not look back in the rear view mirror," was the message Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Khaleda Zia's message in her meetings with the top leaders here, signalling a change in her party's anti-India stance.

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Zia, who arrived here on Sunday for a week-long visit, was the first foreign dignitary to meet newly-appointed Salman Khurshid as foreign minister and hold talks on a range of key bilateral issues, including activities of insurgent groups, Teesta water sharing and border management.

Giving details of her meetings with the Prime Minister and Khurshid, a ministry's spokesperson said, her visit was part of India's ongoing engagement with Bangladesh. It also provided an opportunity to exchange views on the matters of mutual interest and would also build positive momentum in the ties between the two countries.

He said the former Bangladesh PM also reiterated her assurance that she and her party will not allow Bangladeshi soil to be used for anti-India acts.

Zia's party has maintained an anti-India stance since its inception as a political entity and New Delhi is keen to mend fences with her in the run up to the general elections in Bangladesh in 2013-end.