Islamabad/New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS): Pakistan Friday said it would welcome a visit to the country by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who said he would visit Pakistan if circumstances are "appropriate".

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam, asked at briefing in Islamabad if any visit by the Indian prime minister was the offing, said: "There is an outstanding invitation to the Indian prime minister which was extended to him by Pakistan and was accepted. We don't have any time frame for the visit as yet. Obviously we would welcome the visit."

Manmohan Singh, asked at a press conference in New Delhi why he had not gone to Pakistan since taking office in 2004, said he "would very much like to go to Pakistan".

"I was born in a village which is now part of west Punjab. But as prime minister, I should go to Pakistan if conditions are appropriate to achieve solid results.

"Ultimately I felt that the circumstances were not appropriate (to visit Pakistan). I still have not given up the hope of going to Pakistan before (giving up office)."