What Sushma Swaraj told Sartaj Aziz about Indo-Pak cricket ties

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.

However, the JUI-F chief, whose party shares the treasury benches with the ruling PML-N, praised Nawaz Sharif for organising the Heart of Asia ministerial conference on Afghanistan which he believed would go a long way in bringing regional countries together.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaz Aziz said this while making a statement in Pak Parliament today.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the National Assembly on Thursday that foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India will meet soon to discuss modalities regarding the comprehensive bilateral dialogue. He said as announced in the joint statement, the two sides agreed to a comprehensive bilateral dialogue to discuss security, confidence building measures (CBMs), Jammu & Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Baragge/Tulbul navigation project, economic and commercial cooperation, counter- terrorism, narcotics control, humanitarian issues, people-to-people exchanges and religious tourism. The dialogue will encompass all outstanding issues, including Counter-terrorism, Kashmir, peace and security. Pakistan is awaiting the green light from New Delhi on the series, which cricket boards in both countries have agreed would consist of three one-day and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) set to be played in Sri Lanka in December-January.

On Sunday, without prior announcement, the national security advisers and foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met in Bangkok, away from prying eyes.

Preparations for the Bangkok meeting had quietly been ongoing throughout November between Mr. Doval and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, the Indian Express newspaper reported.

Mr Aziz said the four countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the USA – which were part of the Murree talks held in July this year for finding a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan had had detailed deliberations on the issue. He said that Pakistan, United States (US), China and Afghanistan have also agreed to start immediate consultations to resume the reconciliation process between the Afghan government and Taliban for peace and stability in the region. Both India and Pakistan have chose to increase people to people contact as well.

Prime Minister Sharif also hosted a lunch for the heads of delegations at the conference.