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Pakistan, India agree to reinitiate ‘comprehensive’ dialogue process
DAWN.COM | IRFAN HAIDER — UPDATED 13 MINUTES AGO
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj are conducting a meeting to discuss bilateral issues. -PM House
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have agreed to reinitiate the comprehensive dialogue process, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in a joint press conference on Wednesday along with the prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz.
“Instead of composite dialogues, now comprehensive dialogues will be held in which all outstanding issues will be discussed,” Sushma said.
She said that foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India will decide the schedule of these meetings.
The Indian minister claimed that the National Security Advisers of the two countries discussed all the outstanding issues during their recent meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
Earlier on Wednesday, Swaraj met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference to discuss bilateral issues.
The meeting is considered crucial as many long standing issues were discussed.
The prime minister's adviser Sartaj Aziz and premier's special assistant Tariq Fatemi were also in attendance.
Swaraj confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pakistan for the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit expected to be held in September 2016.
Prime Minister welcoming Indian Foreign Minister
Earlier, the opening of the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference in the capital today was marked by a warm welcome from Pakistani authorities to visiting dignitaries from India, Afghanistan, China among other Asian countries.
In her speech, Swaraj focused on increased connectivity, regional trade and openness with Afghanistan, and also "extended India’s hand towards Pakistan" in this regard.
"It is time we [Pakistan and India] display maturity and self confidence to do business with each other... the entire world is watching and we must not disappoint them," she had stated earlier in the day while addressing the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference.
Swaraj also met Prime Minister's daughter Maryam Nawaz.─ Photo: Irfan Haider
She added that India will extend its cooperation at a pace Pakistan is comfortable with.
Swaraj also stated that connectivity also lies at the heart of India’s own efforts to push for regional economic cooperation. Nothing can benefit Afghanistan more immediately than full and direct access to India’s markets to enable it to take advantage of the zero-duty regime
She also conveyed India’s willingness to join the Afghanistan-Pakistan trade and transit agreement.
The Indian foreign minister singled out terrorism as the biggest deterrent to progress and peace in Afghanistan and said India was ready to help Afghanistan strengthen its defence.
The national security advisers of Pakistan and India met for a brief and unannounced meeting in Bangkok last week, which was followed up by an informal and short meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India.
DAWN.COM | IRFAN HAIDER — UPDATED 13 MINUTES AGO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have agreed to reinitiate the comprehensive dialogue process, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in a joint press conference on Wednesday along with the prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz.
“Instead of composite dialogues, now comprehensive dialogues will be held in which all outstanding issues will be discussed,” Sushma said.
She said that foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India will decide the schedule of these meetings.
The Indian minister claimed that the National Security Advisers of the two countries discussed all the outstanding issues during their recent meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
Earlier on Wednesday, Swaraj met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference to discuss bilateral issues.
The meeting is considered crucial as many long standing issues were discussed.
The prime minister's adviser Sartaj Aziz and premier's special assistant Tariq Fatemi were also in attendance.
Swaraj confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pakistan for the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit expected to be held in September 2016.
Earlier, the opening of the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference in the capital today was marked by a warm welcome from Pakistani authorities to visiting dignitaries from India, Afghanistan, China among other Asian countries.
In her speech, Swaraj focused on increased connectivity, regional trade and openness with Afghanistan, and also "extended India’s hand towards Pakistan" in this regard.
"It is time we [Pakistan and India] display maturity and self confidence to do business with each other... the entire world is watching and we must not disappoint them," she had stated earlier in the day while addressing the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference.
She added that India will extend its cooperation at a pace Pakistan is comfortable with.
Swaraj also stated that connectivity also lies at the heart of India’s own efforts to push for regional economic cooperation. Nothing can benefit Afghanistan more immediately than full and direct access to India’s markets to enable it to take advantage of the zero-duty regime
She also conveyed India’s willingness to join the Afghanistan-Pakistan trade and transit agreement.
The Indian foreign minister singled out terrorism as the biggest deterrent to progress and peace in Afghanistan and said India was ready to help Afghanistan strengthen its defence.
The national security advisers of Pakistan and India met for a brief and unannounced meeting in Bangkok last week, which was followed up by an informal and short meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India.
