India, Pak to revive peace dialogue, Pak assures of expediting 26/11 trial

The two separate meetings resulted in a breakthrough and India and Pakistan made a decision to resume high-level bilateral talks – earlier called Composite Dialogue or Resumed Dialogue.

The countries agreed to resume the peace process in 2011 but tensions have spiked over the past two years, with cross-border shelling over the disputed border in Kashmir claiming dozens of lives since 2014.

Pakistan has assured India of “steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion” of the Mumbai attack trial, something that India has been pressing for long.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan at a meeting in New Delhi on Friday. Among others, they include: confidence-building measures; the Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen Glacier and Sir Creek territorial disputes; and economic and commercial cooperation. The last prime ministerial visit from India to Pakistan was by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in January 2004, also for the SAARC summit held that year. “Since it is happening in Pakistan it is necessary and appropriate for me to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and hold talks with my counterpart Sartaj Aziz to talk about improving the bilateral ties and take them forward”, Swaraj said.

The meeting between the two Prime Ministers had led to secret talks between the National Security Advisers of both countries in Bangkok on Sunday.

Wednesday’s joint statement said Sushma Swaraj and Aziz “condemned terrorism and resolved to cooperate to eliminate it”.

Afghan Foreign Minister said the conference has adopted Islamabad Declaration which reflected strong support by the world countries for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Welcoming the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan, the U.S. on Thursday said it was exactly what it has been strongly trying to encourage and asked the two neighbours to reach diplomatic solutions to some of the “thorny problems” which they still face.

At a joint press conference with Aziz, Swaraj said that she had a “very good meeting” with both Aziz and Sharif. However, what has been decided already is that talks on terrorism will be handled by national security advisers of both countries.