Pakistan, India NSAs discuss LoC, Kashmir issue in Bangkok

Meeting comes after Nawaz-Modi huddle during COP 21 climate change summit in Paris

ISLAMABAD: Foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India, aided by their respective national security advisers, discussed on Sunday peace and security issues between the two countries.

“Pursuant to the meeting of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan in Paris, the national security advisers, accompanied by the foreign secretaries, met in Bangkok today,” says a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

Discussions between officials of the two countries are said to be held in a candid, cordial and constructive atmosphere.

“They were guided by the vision of the two leaders for a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia,” the statement said.



Issues related to peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, including tranquility along Line of Control (LoC) came under discussion during the meeting, the statement said, adding “it was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement.”

The meeting comes in wake of reports that India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to visit Pakistan next week for a regional conference on Afghanistan.



Last month, Pakistan extended an invitation to the top Indian diplomat for a ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process to be held in Islamabad on December 8 and 9.

Although there is no official confirmation as to who will represent India at the conference, officials at Pakistan’s Foreign Office and an Indian diplomat told The Express Tribune Swaraj will most likely attend the conference following this week’s unscheduled meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India in Paris.

On November 30, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approached PM Nawaz and both held a brief meeting on the side-lines of a UN climate summit in the French capital.



“Both the leaders appeared to be in a friendly mood and there seemed to be great warmth during their interaction. The two leaders parted with a warm handshake,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House said.

Images showed the two leaders seated casually on a sofa without diplomatic subtleties and talking to each other candidly. However, Nawaz would not say what exactly was discussed in the meeting.