Dec 29, 2015
News
No set agenda in Nawaz-Modi meeting
Pakistan, India’s foreign secretaries likely to meet on Jan 15
OnlineNEW DELHI – Many expected the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on December 25 a breakthrough, but sources privy to the short conversation say it was a friendly one and had no set agenda.
Spurning official talks in Islamabad, Modi chose to make an intimate trip to Nawaz’s ancestral residence near Lahore on Friday during his surprise visit, where the latter was celebrating his birthday and the wedding of his granddaughter.
A Pakistani government official noted that during the 50-minute meeting between the two prime ministers, there was no substantive mention of Kashmir or terrorism, thus proving that the meeting was a friendly one and had no set agenda.
While the two leaders agreed that this could be easier said than done, sources said the two prime ministers were firm about trying their best to maintain contact at the highest level. They also agreed in principle to keep the dialogue between their national security advisers rock solid and intact.
The foreign secretaries of both the countries are likely to meet in Islamabad on January 15. Prime Minister Nawaz and Narendra Modi asked their respective foreign secretaries to design a plan for about three to six months with actionable areas where both sides can cooperate during the upcoming meeting.
The reason for a three-month plan is that they are most likely to meet each other in Washington on March 31, when US President Barack Obama is hosting the Nuclear Security Summit. So they want to take stock of the engagements in the next three months, an official privy to the conversation told the Indian Express Newspaper.
The talks are likely to result in tangible outcomes before Modi visits Islamabad for the SAARC Summit, which Pakistan is believed to be hosting in October-November 2016. Further, sources added that before India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar leaves for Pakistan, he is likely to have review meetings with secretaries and departments concerned to understand the possible new areas” of cooperation.
When Jaishankar meets Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, they should have a tentative plan and schedule of engagements for the next few months. It will be followed by a meeting between officials from both countries almost every week or two weeks, the source said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk