She met on Wednesday with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while attending a regional conference to discuss Afghanistan’s future.
Advertisement
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stressed his commitment to “an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process” – a reference to the talks, hosted by Pakistan, that foundered in July after news leaked that Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead for two years.
“It will be a new comprehensive bilateral dialogue”, announced Swaraj, with Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz standing next to her, in a crowded room of journalists in Islamabad on Wednesday night.
The “comprehensive bilateral dialogue” replaces the “composite” negotiations held by India and Pakistan between 2003 and 2006.
“He will be coming”, Swaraj told reporters when asked if Modi will visit Pakistan to attend the Summit.
Citing this week’s successful talks in Bangkok, they also vowed to continue addressing all issues related to terrorism, according to the joint declaration.
“It is time that we display the maturity and self- confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation”.
India and Pakistan have agreed to resume high-level peace talks which stalled in 2012. “It’s exactly what we’ve been strongly trying to encourage”, John Kirby, State Department Spokesman said yesterday.
The foreign secretaries of the two countries will decide on the timetable of the proposed talks, said Swaraj, who held an hour-long meeting with Sharif in Islamabad before meeting Aziz at the Foreign Office.
“The “Heart” of Asia can not function if arteries are clogged”.
The Pakistan has become a conduit pipe to terrorists in Afghanistan and India.
The minister remarked nothing can benefit Afghanistan more than full, direct overland access to Indian markets, adding India is willing to receive Afghan trucks at Attari.
The renewed diplomatic push comes after last month’s massacre in Paris intensified global efforts to root out terrorism as Islamic State militants inspire attacks around the world. “But today, let us at least resolve to help Afghanistan – in the best tradition of good neighbourliness – through more effective transit arrangements”.
But approaching the 2014 national elections, the Congress was reluctant – attacked by the BJP, then in Opposition, for allegedly being “soft” on terror and, by extension, on Pakistan.
Sushma Swaraj said that the multilateral conference provided “an important platform for friends of Afghanistan from its immediate and extended neighbourhood to promote political consultations and regional cooperation for a united, democratic, independent, strong and prosperous Afghanistan”.
“We very a lot hope that Pakistan can play a really influential position and essential position within the peace and reconciliation course of”, he informed a information convention.
The issues that divide the two countries include first, the Afghan government’s increasing concerns regarding intensification in the Taliban’s attacks while blaming it on the sanctuaries and support base in Pakistan, and our complaints about use of Afghan territory by the renegade Pakistani Taliban and Indian intelligence operatives to destabilise Pakistan.
Advertisement
Afghanistan and Pakistan accuse one another of supporting insurgencies throughout their border, which they each deny.
