Indo-Pak talks to mark beginning of peace, development

While briefing the Parliament on her recent visit to Pakistan, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India and Pakistan will engage in a comprehensive dialogue on all issues including peace, security and Kashmir.

In Islamabad the two sides came out with a combined statement on resumption of discussions, capping a series of positive developments since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Paris.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in Islamabad, during her recent visit to Pakistan.

Continued estrangement of India-Pakistan was a hurdle to realisation of peace and prosperity in the region, says Sushma Swaraj.

Noting that the decision to hold national security adviser level-talks in Bangkok recently may become a precursor to injecting third party mediation into the India-Pakistan dynamic, former Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari said even the visit of the foreign minister to Islamabad was not appropriate, let alone the announcement on composite dialogue process.

She said there is a “sharp awareness” that principal obstacles to the growth of ties “especially terrorism”, would have to be clearly and directly addressed.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12.30 after uproar by BSP, Congress members over Punjab incident.

Also, it aims at “exploring and establishing cooperative ties”, she said, adding initiatives on trade and connectivity, people-to-people exchanges and humanitarian issues would contribute to welfare of the entire region and promote better understanding and mutual trust. She said that it has always been the Indian Government’s endeavour to maintain relations with neighbouring countries, including Pakistan. He expressed hope that the Foreign Secretaries of both the nations would be able to meet sooner or later to finalize modalities for future dialogues.