New Delhi, July 3: Uncertainty prevailed over whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif will meet in Ufa in Russian Federation on the sidelines of SCO Summit next week, with the External Affairs Ministry today refusing to confirm or deny the possibility.
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The Prime Minister will begin his journey in Uzbekistan on July 7 following which he will travel to Kazakhstan and then head for the BRICS Summit meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in Ufa in Russia.
“On his way back from BRICS Summit, the PM will go to Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in that order”, he further elaborated.
Informing of the PM’s itinerary, Navtej Sarna (MEA Secretary, West), added, “The PM will be going to Ufa for BRICS after visiting two central Asian countries”.
Prime Minister Modi will also be attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit happening in Ufa.
The seventh BRICS summit is going to be held from July 8-9.
The leaders would hold restricted as well as delegation level talks. The agenda would be political and economic but the emphasis would be on economic cooperation.
There would be a signing ceremony of the declaration followed by a media interaction.
Asked whether the economic crisis of Greece would be discussed at BRICS Summit, she said assumption in the five-nation grouping is that the “fragile balance of economy will not be disrupted in any way by the economic situation in Eurozone and that it will not have ramifications beyond Euro”.
“There is great potential to increase trade, but it is hampered by lack of surface connectivity”, he said.
In Almaty (Kazakhstan), Modi would also attend a business event, where leading CEOs from both countries would be present.
Mr Sarna said India had already substantial counter-terror cooperation with these countries, but it would get increased thrust with the visit of the Prime Minister.
Mr Modi will in fact inaugurate an e-health facility in Kyrgyzstan having a virtual link witha hospital in India.
“This is a pilot project and can be replicated”, the top official said.
The Prime Minister’s visit to the strategically located and energy resources rich five central Asian regions is coming at a time when India’s extended neighbourhood is under increased threat of religious extremism and terrorism.
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Earlier, yesterday in Islamabad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan did not rule out a meeting between Mr Modi and Mr Sharif, saying it was normal for leaders to meet when they participate in such multilateral fora.
