NewsJune 09, 2017
Xi, Putin fail to arrange Nawaz-Modi meeting
ASTANA: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) could not provide a much-speculated breakthrough in the ties of Pakistan and India as the collective efforts of Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting failed.Both the leaders reached the Kazakhstan capital on Thursday. Eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) spent three hours on Thursday evening under one roof but the two prime ministers had only handshakes without exchange of any pleasantries. Chinese President Xi reached Astana on Wednesday.
The sources said that all the SCO leaders, who gathered at the Astana Opera House for concert and dinner hosted by President Nazr of Kazakhstan, were present in both the functions without their aides.
The Indian prime minister, who reached the venue about two minutes after the arrival of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, shook hands with him but without any expression on the face. Nawaz maintained a graceful composure during the whole event. He kept meeting other fellow leaders with due dignity.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was also present and had a chat with Modi. He too didn’t avail the opportunity to have a chat with Prime Minister Nawaz with whom he will be meeting today (Friday).
PM Nawaz had a detailed chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the dinner and also exchanged pleasantries with Russian President Putin and other SCO leaders. Nawaz will have back-to-back meetings today and it wouldn’t be possible for him to spare time for a meeting with the Indian PM during the time left with him at the SCO summit. Nawaz will be returning home on Saturday (tomorrow) while Modi will leave today in the evening.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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