The “comprehensive bilateral dialogue” replaces the “composite” negotiations held by India and Pakistan between 2003 and 2006.
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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who arrived here late last night after a visit to Pakistan, will make a statement in Parliament on Thursday on the proposed “comprehensive dialogue” between the two nations.
The Modi government had hardened its position towards Pakistan, demanding action on terrorism and forward movement in the trial of seven suspects of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were killed.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Ufa, Russia, in July, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif invited Modi to attend the Saarc summit in Islamabad next year, which Modi had accepted. Relations between the two powers chilled after Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist, became India’s prime minister previous year. The entire world is rooting and waiting for a change.
Representatives of over two dozen countries met in the Pakistani capital as part of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process initiative, which was launched in 2011 to promote Afghan peace efforts.
The joint statement issued by the two sides on Wednesday clearly shows an eagerness to resolve contentious issues through constant deliberations.
Swaraj and Aziz 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.
Upon arrival here on Tuesday, Sushma Swaraj echoed these sentiments about Afghanistan’s importance to India and the necessity of Indian engagement in this multilateral process.
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.
Meanwhile, politics has already started over the bilateral talks. “It is time that we display the maturity and self-confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation”.
They are so powerful there that once the Government of Pakistan handed over administration of Swat Valley to Talibans but due to USA hand stand revoked it. Mrs Sushma Swaraj addressing the Meet said that Afghanistan was putting up fearless fight to meet the Talibans menace. “Let us not disappoint them”, she said.
Antony J Blinken, US deputy secretary of state, said the Afghan and Pakistani leaders renewed their commitment to an “Afghan owned and Afghan led” process during meetings with senior diplomats from the US and China, in a sign of the powerful worldwide pressures for a peaceful end to the war.
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Pakistan won’t allow trucks from Afghanistan to reach Attari in India, making them stop about a kilometre short at the last Pakistani checkpoint of Wagah.
