The hostility between Pakistan and India dates back seven decades, but strains have grown since nationalist Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office a year ago.
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BEIJING: As India and Pakistan are set to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a Chinese analyst has said while their entry could improve the image of the bloc, any major confrontation between the two could be a stumbling block for its future.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the joint statement issued by India and Pakistan in Russian Federation was a “step forward” in normalising bilateral relations.
“They agreed that India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development”, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Chaudhry said, signaling that the two countries are ready to pick up the threads again. To do so, they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues, the statement said.
After months of stalemate and recriminations, Modi and Sharif spoke for around an hour while visiting Russian Federation, the talks ending with an agreement by the Indian premier to attend a regional summit in Islamabad next year. Perhaps there is a glimmer of light in the bilateral relationship.
“An important concession has been made by Pakistan”, he said.
Early meetings of DG BSF** and DG Pakistan Rangers followed by that of DGMOs.***.
The two sides announced they would release fishermen held in each other’s custody within 15 days as a goodwill gesture. 10 The neighbours agree to discuss mechanism for facilitating religious tourism.
Zulfiqar Khosa said Pakistan PM should not trust any sureties given by India.
This will mark Modi’s first visit to Pakistan after becoming prime minister.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan appreciates Russia’s support to join the SCO as a full member.
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. “Unless the dialogue process aims at resolution of the basic problem of Kashmir, it would not move beyond a photo ops session between the leaders of the two countries”, Geelani said in a statement.
Shireen Mazari of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) expressed dismay over the manner in which Sharif “appeased India” at the meeting.
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Russian Federation sees the organization, expanding for the first time since its creation in 2001, as a counterweight to Western alliances.
