PM Modi to visit Pakistan next year for SAARC summit

Mr. Modi also accepted the invitation of Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif to visit Pakistan during the SAARC summit in 2016. Sources say that India has clearly told Sharif that the two countries need to build confidence before going any further in our relationship.

Indian officials had previously refused to confirm Modi’s participation at the next summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), usually attended by leaders of eight countries in the region.

Modi and Sharif had held bilateral talks in May past year in New Delhi when the Pakistan prime minister came to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Indian leader.

The two sides also discussed the primary issue that has strained ties: India’s accusations of Pakistani foot-dragging on bringing justice to those responsible for Mumbai’s November 2008 terror attacks that killed 164 people and wounded at least 308.

The Friday statement, meanwhile, said India and Pakistan would “discuss ways and means” to speed up the legal process.

A meeting in New Delhi between the two NSAs* to discuss all issues connected to terrorism.

According to Aizaz Chaudhry, the Foreign Secretary Pakistan, the meeting was held in a congenial environment and the two exchanged their stances on bilateral and regional welfare.

“For the first time, Pakistan has accepted the Indian position on terrorism by rejecting it in all forms”. Notably, this would be the first meeting between the NSAs of the neighbouring countries under the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the Congress criticised Modi’s meeting with Sharif.

“Kashmir is the most important issued and needs to be resolved by India and Pakistan by taking all stakeholders with the State on-board”.

While analysts warned major obstacles still lay in the way of significant progress, a joint statement said both leaders recognised their “collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development”.

Mr Modi had on that occasion reiterated to Mr Sharif his message of peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

There have also been clashes at the de facto border that divides Kashmir.

In April, when a Pakistani court freed on bail Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, accused of plotting the attacks, the move drew swift condemnation from India, which warned that relations were deteriorating.

But a week before that meeting was to take place, India cancelled the talks citing the Pakistan high commissioner’s decision to invite Hurriyat leaders for consultations as the reason.