Sushma likely to visit Pakistan next week

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj may travel to Islamabad next week to attend a multilateral conclave on Afghanistan.

Swaraj is expected to attend the Heart of Asia donor conference on 8 December.

India had already officially accepted Pakistan’s invite for the conference but was yet to decide on the level of representation. The two leaders had shaken hands as Nawaz was seen listening attentively as Modi spoke to him.

India is aware about reports that the Chinese Government is planning to extend its rail link to Nepal, which might involve building a tunnel under Mount Everest, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha. Talks on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia meeting will focus on reviving talks between the two countries.

After the cabinet meeting, Swaraj had stayed back and held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for almost 20 minutes. Scores of trucks have been stranded at a key border checkpoint for over two months following protests by ethnic minorities over the Himalayan nation’s new constitution introduced in September. “Doors of dialogue should open”.

The NSA-level talks were called off after India conveyed to Pakistan that New Delhi would not allow Pakistan’s then NSA Sartaj Aziz to meet Kashmiri separatists leaders in New Delhi ahead of his meeting with his Indian counterpart.

“There is no formal communication yet, but indications are that she will visit”, the diplomat said.

“We always welcome these kinds of exchanges and dialogue between India and Pakistan”, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters yesterday when asked about the meeting.

During his first go to in October inside days of assuming workplace, Thapa had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swaraj, following which Indian officers had agreed to re-route the automobiles carrying important provides to Nepal from these border factors that are much less disturbed. “I think this is a tactical move by the Indian government to show that we are making efforts to engage Pakistan”, Sibal said.