Indo-Pakistan talks likely on January 15 in Islamabad

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan are expected to hold their foreign secretary-level talks in Islamabad on January 15 to discuss the modalities of various elements under the Composite Dialogue that was relaunched at the foreign minister level meeting in the Pakistani capital earlier this month.

Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar is expected to visit the neighbouring country to discuss the modalities, sources here said on Saturday. The case for foreign secretary level meeting was discussed between the two PMs when Narendra Modi made a stopover in Lahore on Sunday on his way back from Kabul — a visit that had taken everyone by surprise.

Briefing reporters after Modi’s departure on Sunday night, Pakistani foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said, “It was a goodwill visit and the two sides decided to understand each other’s reservations and restart the comprehensive dialogue in a positive manner.”

The Pakistani foreign secretary said that during the brief meeting, the two PMs decided that the foreign secretaries will meet in mid-January.

Pakistani foreign office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah also said that both prime ministers agreed to work together to establish good neighbourly relations. Sources here stated that the Indian PM emphasised on the necessity of peace in the region during his meeting with Sharif. According to sources, Sharif told Modi that regardless of the politics in both countries, he is convinced that people on both sides want good relations. He told the Indian PM that he developed this view when he visited India during the 1982 Asian Games and had the opportunity to travel through Punjab and Haryana, meeting people on the way.

The two NSAs would discuss the cross-border terror issue, according to the joint statement. After months of ups and downs there has been a thaw in the bilateral relations since Modi held talks with Sharif in Paris on November 30.