Russian Defence Minister Shoigu’s visit last November to Pakistan came at a very critical juncture as US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces drawdown from Afghanistan.
Advertisement
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted an invitation Friday from his counterpart Nawaz Sharif to attend a regional summit in Islamabad next year in what would be his first visit to Pakistan.
The move demonstrates a readiness to engage with India’s longtime rival despite the hawkish stance Modi’s government has often taken.
Meanwhile, sources indicated ET that Modi will strongly raise India’s concerns on militancy with Pakistan and that all outstanding issues including inaction against Hafiz Saeed and 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
The joint statement said: “The two leaders exchanged views on issues of bilateral and regional interest”.
Asked if the meeting might see a reduction in the tension that has characterized India-Pakistan relations in the past few months, a Pakistani spokesperson described the meeting as a “positive development”.
The two refused to take any questions.
Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples.
Modi also accepted Sharif’s invitation to attend a meeting of South Asian leaders in Pakistan in 2016, Jaishankar said.
After the talks, Nawz Sharief told the media that he was extremely happy to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi was warmly received by Sharif before their much-anticipated meeting in Ufa.
Since independence from British rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over the mostly Muslim-region of Kashmir.
Russian Federation lifted embargoes on providing defence supplies to Pakistan and currently the two sides are working on different options to increase the ties in the defence field.
The constant firing on the border featured in the talks, especially as a BSF trooper was killed in cross-border firing.
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.
Advertisement
“We will make joint efforts to enrich the connotation of the China-Pakistan community of common destiny, so as to play an exemplary role for building the community of common destiny between China and other neighbouring countries”, he added.
