Indian, Afghan officials in Pakistan for conference held amid regional tensions

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Pakistan will revive and reinvigorate ties between New Delhi and Islamabad, said a leading Pakistani daily which noted that both countries “seem prepared to learn from the mistakes and choices of the recent past”.

The Bangkok dialogue included a four-and-a-half hour one-to-one meeting between Indian national security advisor, Ajit Doval, a confidante of Mr. Modi, and his counterpart Nasir Janjua, a recently retired general in Pakistan’s politically-dominant army.

Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi on Tuesday said he is not expecting much from the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as the bilateral relations between the two countries can not improve with Pakistan adamant on raising the Kashmir issue.

“Discussions covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, and other issues including tranquility along the LoC (Line of Control)”, the statement said.

“The fact that the Foreign Secretaries have accompanied the National Security Advisors means that the scope and the agenda has been expanded”.

Mr Aziz said he was expecting a “good and positive” outcome from Wednesday’s meeting and both sides should take forward the engagement to improve ties.

“We welcome studies of the assembly between Indian and Pakistani officers”.

“For the first time, the Pakistani Army itself is on the board with India, which gives us an fantastic opportunity to force the Pakistani Army indirectly to agree to curtail anti-Indian activities on the borders”, he added. High-powered delegations from 14 states, 17 supporting countries and 12 worldwide and regional organisations are participating in the conference, said the Foreign Office in a statement.

The main goal of the visit though is the conference – The Heart of Asia Istanbul Process – that was established in 2011 at the initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey.

“There is obviously interest from Washington and London for these countries to talk… and if for nothing else then for the stabilisation of the peace process in Afghanistan”, Khan said.

In the case of India, the decision came in the wake of a brief but crucial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of a climate change conference in Paris.