Modi, Nawaz Sharif meet. Talked longer than expected

Mangalore Today News Network

Ufa, July 10, 2015:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif greeted each other with a warm handshake before holding formal bilateral talks for about an hour on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Russia.

 

Issues ranging from terrorism to trade have reportedly been discussed in the meeting, which was extended beyond the scheduled time.
   
"Neighbourhood engagement," tweeted Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop as he posted pictures of the handshake between the two leaders.
   
PM Modi and Nawaz Sharif had met informally at a dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin last night.
   
Sources have indicated to NDTV that the discussions are not necessarily a prelude to a resumption of the dialogue process between the two countries; a decision will depend on the talks.
   
PM Modi reportedly raised with Mr Sharif India’s concerns on terror and the release of 26/11 plotter Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi from jail in Pakistan.
   
Just a day ahead of the talks, Pakistani forces violated ceasefire again at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir in which a BSF jawan was killed.
   
India called off a dialogue between foreign secretaries in August, incensed that Pakistan’s envoy in New Delhi had engaged with Kashmiri separatists in the run-up to those talks.
   
Till a week ago, there was a sense that the two leaders would greet one another in Ufa and have a quick chat in what is referred to as a "pull-aside" in diplomatic parlance.
   
Today’s meeting comes at a time when Pakistan has warned India against any military operations on its soil along the lines of the one in Myanmar last month in which Indian Special Forces went across the border and destroyed two militant camps, killing as many as 50 rebels.
   
Mr Modi and Mr Sharif last met in Kathmandu in November, 2014, but did not have a proper bilateral meeting. Prime Minister Modi then reached out to Mr Sharif by wishing him at the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan; during the phone call the Pakistani PM stressed the importance of peaceful bilateral ties between the countries.

 

Courtesy: NDTV