Advisor Sartaj Aziz “condemned terrorism and resolved to cooperate to eliminate it”.
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“We wanted more than the existing subset in the composite dialogue that is why it was renamed”, the sources said.
External Affairs Minister Swaraj arrived on a two-day visit to Pakistan on Tuesday to attend the “Heart of Asia” ministerial conference on Afghanistan. In the past, every time there was forward momentum in India-Pakistan ties, there were attempts by non-state and extra-state actors on the Pakistan side to derail the process.
Swaraj said in Islamabad that the foreign secretaries of both countries would meet soon to set an agenda for meetings on “peace and security”.
Relations between Pakistan and India improved dramatically on Wednesday when the two sparring nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to unrestricted talks after years of disagreeing terms of any discussions of their numerous disputes. Let us not disappoint them.
Wang also called on parties concerned to strengthen counter-terror cooperation and make joint efforts to maintain regional peace and stability.
A meeting of the national security advisers of the two countries in Bangkok last Sunday marked the first sign of a softening in India’s position.
Islamabad also assured New Delhi that steps were now being taken to expedite the speedy conclusion of the ongoing trial of individuals suspected in a string of attacks in Mumbai in 2009 that killed over 150 people.
Omar’s deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, took over as leader but violent splits have emerged in the militant group, dimming prospects for negotiations while Mansour seeks to consolidate his position, analysts say.
“The Composite Dialogue between our two countries, which later became the Resumed Dialogue, is being restarted as Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue and would have same pillars as the earlier processes”, she told journalists as she came out of a conference room after over an hour meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Mr Aziz at the Foreign Office.
“India is prepared to move our cooperation at a pace which Pakistan is comfortable with”, Swaraj said.
Delhi suspended all talks after Islamist gunmen attacked the Indian city of Mumbai in November 2008, killing 166 people. The conference was attended by the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, foreign ministers and high level representatives of 30 countries.
The PCB chief had said yesterday that his hopes for the series had been dashed after a visit to Islamabad by India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj failed to yield any breakthrough.
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While India and Pakistan share a 3,200km border and have mutually intelligible languages, trade between economies accounting for 20 per cent of the world’s population was a paltry US$2.9 billion (S$4.08 billion) previous year.
