NEW DELHI, India – President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday (April 8th) became the first Pakistani head of state since 2005 to visit India, on a one-day trip that he described as "very fruitful" in improving ties between the rivals.

Zardari lunched with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and invited him to visit Pakistan, according to AFP.

The meeting has received a cautious welcome from analysts who see it as another sign of improving relations between the bitter neighbours, but the issue of Pakistani militant activity against India remains deeply problematic.

India continues to press Pakistan to prosecute the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, blamed on the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was founded by hardline Islamist Hafiz Saeed.

The lunch was preceded by a 40-minute private conversation between the two leaders.

India's Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters Kashmir and the presence of anti-India militant groups in Pakistan were discussed, along with "the activities of Hafiz Saeed" and ways to increase trade between the countries.