Pakistan, India agree to resume composite dialogue

The joint-statement released at the end of their meeting said the discussions will involve peace and security, CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-Terrorism, Narcotics Control, Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and religious tourism.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said the foreign secretaries of both countries would meet to set an agenda for meetings on “peace and security”.

Sushma Swaraj met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier today.

“It is time that we display the maturity and self- confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation”.

Ms. Swaraj said the Heart of Asia process provided an important platform for friends of Afghanistan from its immediate and extended neighbourhood to promote political consultations and regional cooperation for a united, democratic, independent, strong and prosperous Afghanistan.

 Afterwards, she announced Mr. Modi would visit Pakistan for a summit of South Asian nations next year; he would be the first Indian prime minister to visit since 2004.

She made the announcement following a brief meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Initiated in the mid-1990s, the India-Pakistan talks were called “composite dialogue”, which India severed after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, and later “comprehensive dialogue” or “resumed dialogue”. “Let’s not disappoint them”, Sushma Swaraj while addressing the “Heart of Asia” summit in Islamabad.

“He will be coming”, Swaraj told reporters when asked if Modi will visit Pakistan to attend the Summit.

“Both the countries have agreed to resume the stalled talks”, said Swaraj, who met with Sharif and his foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz.

On his part, Prime Minister Sharif said Afghanistan is a sovereign state and the worldwide community fully respects its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Aziz said Pakistan wants durable peace in Afghanistan, as instability there was not in the interest of Pakistan.

“Our allies, in this case USA and China and of course Pakistan, have expressed their willingness to work with Afghanistan on peace and reconciliation process”.

While India and Pakistan share a 3,200km border and have mutually understandable languages, trade between economies accounting for 20 per cent of the world’s population was a paltry US$2.9 billion past year. Pakistan has withheld permission previously, making it conditional on the resumption of full-fledged bilateral dialogue by India.

The Afghan leader’s visit to Pakistan came as at least nine people were killed in a Taliban siege at an airport in Kandahar, highlighting the insurgents’ ongoing capacity to carry out spectacular attacks despite reports of factional infighting.