Narendra Modi meets Nawaz Sharif in Paris

Pakistani media reacted positively to the brief meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Paris, describing it as “ice-breaker” which will lead towards easing of tension.

Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi shook hands in a lobby of the Conference Centre and then sat down on a sofa where they were seen talking animatedly.

Modi asserted that the extent of developed nations’ commitment and the strength of their action must be “consistent” with the carbon space they occupy and these nations must leave enough of what is left of our carbon space to let developing countries grow.

The Prime Minister also met his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and a host of other world leaders.

“So, we approach the negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in a spirit of partnership – which must be based on the principles of equity and common, but differentiated responsibilities”, Modi said.

The Prime Minister also said that convergence between economy, ecology and energy should define the future of the world. The global alliance brings together developing and developed countries to expand energy access, accelerate solar power deployment, and stimulate economic development.

In his launch speech, Mr Modi invoked Indian tradition in which the sun is the source of all forms of energy.

“We still need conventional energy – we need to make it clean, not impose an end to its use”, he added.

“India will fulfill expectations from it and its responsibilities… the country is working to take forward development and (protecting) environment together”, Modi said at a joint press event with Obama.

“India has emerged as the natural leader for this alliance, with its ambitious targets to install 175GW of renewable energy by 2022”, said Arunabha Ghosh, chief executive of the Council for Energy, Environment and Water in India, according to The Guardian.

Though the two prime ministers had agreed in Ufa that their National Security Advisors would meet in New Delhi to discuss all issues connected to terrorism, the meeting was called off after India asked Pakistan to drop its insistence on discussing Kashmir and holding consultations with the separatists.

“By 2030, we will reduce carbon emissions intensity per unit GDP by 33-35 percent of 2005 levels, and 40 percent of our installed capacity will be from non- fossil fuels”, Modi said at the Paris Climate Meet in Paris, France.

However, he said his interaction with Modi was “cordial” and Indian PM expressed his desire to further the process of solving the issues that are hindering the efforts to improve bilateral ties.