Responding to a point raised by leader of the opposition Aitzaz Ahsan, Aziz said no secret meeting was held between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan at Kathmandu a year ago.
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The Adviser said the Foreign Secretaries would draw up a map for the next six months for talks on ten identified subjects.
The Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office who visited hamlets along the global border here and reviewed the progress of projects, explained to people the benefits of Modi’s visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was returning to India after completing official visits to Russian Federation and Afghanistan on December 25, 2015.
According to Radio Pakistan, “Initially the focus (of talks) would be on the reduction of tension and maintenance of calm on the Line of Control to provide relief to the people living across the LoC”. “Constant engagement is the only way to resolve all outstanding issues”. “There is a need of enhancing cooperation between India and Pakistan so that poverty and other issues of South Asia should be addressed”, he said.
A source present during the meeting said the leaders of the nuclear-armed nations “chatted like old friends” as they ate vegetarian food.
A senior political analyst Imtiaz Gul said that improved relations of Pakistan and India will help in economic development and regional connectivity.
Congress should first decide want they want, he said, adding that the party was rattled by the popularity and growing stature of Modi at the global level and acceptance among the people. Sharif, who was in Lahore for his granddaughter’s wedding, said he won’t be able to make it to Islamabad and requested Modi to come to Lahore.
Prime Minister Modi in a surprise move which has been termed as “birthday diplomacy” on Friday evening reached Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
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Aziz, special assistant on foreign affairs Tariq Fatemi and National Security Adviser Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua could not join Sharif in the meeting at his Jati Umra residence.
