India's top envoys hold brainstorming sessions with Sushma Swaraj

NEW DELHI: India's top envoys from the neighbouring countries today held brainstorming sessions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during which a variety of issues were discussed including economic diplomacy as well as the impact of Afghanistan presidential polls and withdrawal of NATO troops from the war-torn country.

The meeting was geared towards maintaining the momentum that was set in motion of giving priority to the neighbours by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he invited them to his swearing-in ceremony, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

Noting that the Prime Minister has made it clear that overriding priority for India was comprehensive national development, he said the meeting was aimed at trying and working out measures by which the diplomats in this region can assist in that national endeavour.

Asked about the presence of Indian envoys from Central Asian countries and if it was related to energy security issues, the Spokesperson said when the envoys are called, they discuss variety of things including development partnership and economic diplomacy which was an important aspect.

Apart from Indian envoys from SAARC countries, top diplomats from China, Myanmar and Afghanistan's neighbourhood like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were also present in the meeting, which also discussed outcome of Afghan presidential election and likely implications of withdrawal of US forces from the war-torn country.

During the day-long conclave, the first of its kind, Swaraj took stock of the current state of play in India's relations with each of the neighbouring countries and set down the new government's priorities and approach.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom were among the South Asian leaders who had attended Modi's swearing-in on May 26.

Bangladesh was represented by Speaker Shirin Chaudhury as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on a visit to Japan.

Modi had bilateral meetings with each of the leaders. This was for the first time the heads of state and government of SAARC nations were invited to attend the swearing-in of an Indian Prime Minister.