Indian and Pakistani security officials hold bilateral talks in Thailand

Joint statement claims peace and security, terrorism, Kashmir and other issues discussed during talks.

Swaraj’s visit is the first ministerial-level visit to Pakistan since the then foreign minister, SM Krishna, travelled to Islamabad in 2012, which was before Modi became prime minister.

Her participation is seen important that will help further lessen tensions between the uneasy and nuclear neighbours.

After the meeting between Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the sideline of swearing-in ceremony of the latter in May 2014, there was no meaningful engagement between the two neighboring countries.

KC Tyagi (JD-U) raised the issue of a purported statement of Pakistan NSA saying the issue of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir will also be discussed during the talks.

However, on Monday, the Opposition parties Congress, Janata Dal (U), NDA ally Shiv Sena and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha criticised the Government for holding talks with Pakistan without taking Parliament into confidence.

“Pakistan has always been hell-bent on destroying India and they have been against us from the start”.

Swaraj’s trip, after a meeting between Modi and Sharif last month, and an unannounced interaction between the national security advisers of the two nations in Bangkok over the weekend, signals a thaw in relations between the nuclear-armed rivals.

South Asia expert S.D. Muni at New Delhi’s Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses, says both sides have climbed down from their stands. However, Pakistan had called-off Aziz’ visit after New Delhi had made it clear that he would not be allowed to meet Kashmiri separatist leaders in the Indian capital. “This is a good beginning, that the deadlock that was present has to some extent been removed”, he said.

On the other hand, Pakistan could ask for a resumption of the composite dialogue process that was called off after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, according to a person familiar with the development.

“The recent meetings between the two prime ministers and security advisers from the two countries in Bangkok have hinted the situation between Pakistan and India will improve”, he said. They alleged that the “secret” NSA-level dialogue between India and Pakistan was “fundamental departure” from its position on Indo-Pak ties.

But Modi has shown his capability of thinking out of the box, more so in foreign policy issues and even more so when it comes to Pakistan.