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Nawaz, Modi maintain distance, no exchange of courtesies in SAARC
INPKATHMANDU – Officials of Pakistan and India said on Wednesday that they have plans for a formal meeting between Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid speculation over whether the two will hold talks on the sidelines of the 18th SAARC summit in Nepal.
“We don't have any plan for a structured meeting between our prime minister and the Pakistani prime minister simply because we have not received a request to that extent,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
Pakistani officials on their part said that it was India that cancelled the foreign secretary level talks scheduled in Islamabad and it was now for New Delhi to take the lead to resume talks. The officials referred to Prime Minister Nawaz's on Tuesday statement that “ball is now India's court for talks between both the countries”.
“We have been shouting from the top of the roof that we are ready for meaningful dialogue. The emphasis was on meaningful. The meaningful dialogue has a meaning in diplomacy. In Pakistan, they know it very clearly what we mean by meaningful dialogue as they know us and understand us. They know everything,” Indian spokesman Akbaruddin said, commenting on Prime Minister Nawaz's remarks.
Pakistan-India ties had shown signs of improvement following Modi's ascent to power – with Nawaz attending the Indian prime minister's swearing-in ceremony in May. But, India suspended foreign secretary-level talks after the Pakistan envoy met Kashmiri separatists. Interestingly, both Nawz and Modi stressed cooperation in their speech at the SAARC summit.
Recalling the Mumbai attack in 2008, Modi urged South Asian countries to work and combat terrorism together. Nawaz, on the other hand, batted for a dispute-free South Asia. He stressed a joint fight by SAARC member nations against social vices. Even though they shared the dais, there was no exchange of courtesies between Nawaz and Modi at the summit – leave alone a handshake.
Nawaz and Modi, who were sitting two seats away from each other, did not look at each other. Leaders of Maldives and Nepal were seated between them. Though there was no structured meeting scheduled, a brief exchange of pleasantries was expected by many. Analysts said that little could be achieved while India's bitter rivalry with Pakistan persists, even as the former is seeking to boost trade and reinvigorate ties in its backyard at the SAARC summit.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk