External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz at a dinner in Islamabad.
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Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, also attending the conference in Islamabad, said she was extending India’s hand to old rival Pakistan and both countries should show the maturity and confidence to improve ties.
Ghani to inaugurate jointly with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the Heart of Asia Conference being hosted by Pakistan. “It provides the member countries an opportunity for engaging in result-oriented cooperation for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and a secure and prosperous region as a whole”, he added.
“They noted the successful talks on terrorism and security-related issues in Bangkok by the two NSAs and decided that the NSAs will continue to address all issues connected to terrorism”.
Washington, Dec 9 While welcoming talks between Indian and Pakistani officials as positive steps, the United States has ruled out convening any talks on counter-terrorism between the two countries as issues between them are best worked out by themselves.
Ms. Swaraj had said at that time that Mr. Sharif and Mr. Modi had agreed at their meeting in July in the Russian city of Ufa that the NSAs would meet only to discuss terror.
The Pakistani premier also especially thanked Afghanistan President Ashraf Ggani for taking part in the conference.
Ghani also met with Pakistan’s military chief Raheel Sharif, who assured him of the military’s “continued full support”, according to an army statement.
Sushma Swaraj is expected to take this process forward during her likely meetings with Prime Minister Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on the margins of what is called the 5th Ministerial Conference on Heart of Asia Istanbul Process.
He termed the Heart of Asia initiative an effective platform for promoting regional economic cooperation and connectivity in the Heart of Asia region with Afghanistan at its centre. Speaking on the issue of terrorism, Nawaz said that terrorism was everyone’s enemy and that coordinated efforts were required to defeat it.
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It seems that ice between the two South Asian neighbours has started melting, as Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit.
