Pakistan unaware of Modi-Sharif meeting in New York: Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today said it was not aware of any plans for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York during this month's UN General Assembly session.

"As regards a meeting (Modi-Sharif) in New York, I am not aware of any such plan as yet," Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

Media reports had earlier suggested that the two prime ministers could meet during the event, after talks between foreign secretaries of the two nations scheduled for August 25 was called off by India.

The foreign secretary-level meet was cancelled after Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit had "consultative" meetings with separatist Kashmiri leaders.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to reach New York on September 26 and will address the UN General Assembly the next day.

Meanwhile, the foreign office spokesperson said no fresh dates for the foreign secretary-level talks were under consideration.

Aslam told media at a regular briefing that no new dates were being discussed.

"I would not like to speculate on how Pak-India dialogue process would go forward. We have very clearly spelt out our position on the cancellation of the FS level talks on untenable grounds," she said.

To a question that Al-Qaida has opened a new organisation for the Indian sub-continent, Aslam said, "I have no comments as I do not have any information about this particular media report."

She said Pakistan has taken a very resolute action against Al-Qaida and its remnants and its military operation against terrorists was in progress.

In June, Pakistan launched the long-awaited military assault in the North Waziristan tribal region, considered a stronghold of Taliban and other militants, to avowedly flush out insurgents and regain full control of the district.