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Modi accepts invite for first visit to Pakistan

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Pakistan for the SAARC Summit in 2016″.

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The two leaders also agreed that the national security advisers of both countries will meet in New Delhi to discuss all issues related to terrorism.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the July 7 talks held to promote peace and reconciliation process.

Terrorism remained focus of the talks with both the leaders condemning terrorism in “all its forms” and agreeing to cooperate to eliminate the menace from South Asia.

After an hour-long meeting between Modi and Sharif on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Russian Federation, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said that PM Modi has accepted the Pakistan PM’s invitation to attend 2016 SAARC summit to be held in Pakistan.

The meeting is expected at around 9.15 am (9.45 am IST) on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

It is a first meeting between the two after MP Nawaz met his Indian counterpart one year ago at his swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.

Asked if he was happy about the meeting, he said: “Yes”. Akbar, spokesman for India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Indian Army’s precision attack on a northeast militant camp in Myanmar last month had provoked sharp words from Pakistan, including its military, with the message that “Pakistan is not Myanmar”.

Leaders in both countries had also sharpened their rhetoric in the past, with the Pakistani defence minister and foreign policy advisor accusing India of fomenting acts of terror within Pakistan.

Experts warned the trip could yet fall through, but if Modi goes, it would be the first time an Indian leader has visited the country since Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004.

“The engagement at different levels will hopefully open new possibilities”, the home minister said in a series of tweets.

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The decision to call off the meeting also came against the background of several incidents of alleged violations of ceasefire from across the border in the preceding weeks. “This meeting is an absolutely unprecedented disaster”, Tewari told ANI.

During that meeting, the newly anointed Indian prime minister issued a stern warning that Islamabad must stop militants from attacking India.

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He expressed the hope that it would have a positive impact on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Rare meeting between Pakistan, Indian PMs in Russia - San Antonio Express