Nawaz Sharif to meet Narendra Modi in Russia
Comprehensive exchange of views on all issues of common interest is expected during the meeting
Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will meet with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a government spokesperson said.
“It is confirmed. PM @narendramodi and PM Nawaz Sharif will have a bilateral meeting in Ufa tomorrow at 9.15am on sidelines of SCO Summit,” Indian external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted on Thursday.
The suggestion for a meeting between the two leaders came from India and Pakistan responded positively, the spokesman, quoted by the state-run radio, said.
The spokesman underscored that the Pakistani leader is committed to pursuit of cordial and cooperative ties with all neighbouring countries including India.
A comprehensive exchange of views on all issues of common interest is expected during the meeting of the two heads of state, he said.
Last year in August, India unilaterally cancelled a scheduled foreign secretary level meeting with Pakistan, clouding prospects for resumption of long-stalled peace dialogue between the two nuclear-armed countries.
Since then the relations have witnessed an increase in tension amid mutual recriminations.
Sharif is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Afghan President Ashraf Gani and other participating leaders during his two-day visit.
He is also expected to witness the signing of a $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion) deal with a Russian company for the laying of an LNG gas pipeline in Pakistan from Karachi to Lahore.
Bilateral relations are expected to figure in the talks between the two countries and possibly some agreements inked, including to boost trade.
Modi and Sharif met in November last year during the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, but they did not hold any bilateral meeting.
The two had held a bilateral meeting on May 26 last year during the swearing-in of Modi.
They exchanged gifts — the sari-shawl diplomacy, and tweets — which had given rise to hope of improvement in ties between the two rivals, both nuclear powers.
But continued exchanges of fire on the border, which have claimed the lives of security personnel, and the Pakistani envoy meeting with Kashmiri separatists last August saw India calling off the foreign secretary-level talks at the last moment.
Ties saw a downswing after that, and Pakistan’s raising the Kashmir issue at international forums did not help matters.
The release of 26/11 mastermind Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, despite India voicing concerns, also added to India’s concerns.
Friday’s meeting is likely to see terrorism being discussed, especially India’s concern over the release of Lakhvi by a court in Pakistan.
Both India and Pakistan are to be made permanent members of the SCO.
