Pakistan

Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj arrives in Islamabad

Swaraj becomes first Indian external affairs minister to set foot in Pakistan since 2012

Web Desk December 08, 2015

Indian Extrenal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrives in Islamabad at the Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad on December 8, 2015. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend a regional conference on Afghanistan.

“I have come with a message of good relations between the two countries,” she told media after her arrival.

Swaraj added she will meet the prime minister and counterpart Sartaj Aziz.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj makes arrival statement in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/gMPn3L3D57
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 8, 2015

EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Islamabad to attend the 5th Ministerial Conference on Heart of Asia Istanbul Process on Afghanistan.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 8, 2015

Meanwhile, the Indian minister was welcomed by adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs at the dinner hosted for conference delegates.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomed by Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Adviser Mr Sartaj Aziz at dinner for HoA delegates pic.twitter.com/zKX23crtMH
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 8, 2015

Her visit is set to mark the first significant engagement between the two nuclear-armed nations since the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Ufa, Russia in July this year.

India's foreign minister to visit Pakistan for first time since 2012

Swaraj is leading the Indian delegation at the 'Heart of Asia' fifth Ministerial Meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday.

“Both these engagements on the sidelines of the Afghanistan conference will be in the nature of courtesy meetings as Pakistan is the host nation,” an Indian daily said, quoting government sources.

COMMENTS (24)

JSM | 9 years ago | Reply While all the talking is good, India should ensure that another Kargil is not taking place. History has a habit of repeating.

Nazar R.Rathore | 9 years ago | Reply Recent informal chat between two PMs reflects optimism. Talking to each other to solve problems is good. Majority on both sides want dailogue and peace. And cordial relations. Hindu Muslims have lived togather for centuries in one neighborhood why cannot we co exist peacefully as neighboring countries.

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shahid | 9 years ago | Reply The only single way for India and Pakistan to have peaceful relation ship is to liberalize visa . After all there was no visa before 1947

BRBajaj | 9 years ago | Reply Its a good omen that the dialogue between the two countries have started a fresh. There is no substitute to the dialogue process as such and therefore the show of dialogue must go on. Dialogues takes place even in the times of War and nobody can afford to stay in war hysteria at all the times. After all its a question of lives of more than a billion people. Reconciliation shall eventually happen at one point or the other in a gradual manner. The wisdom lies in recognising each other sentiments without becoming prisoner of history and move forward for the common good of the people.Till recently we were one nation fighting for our liberation from the british rule and how can we the same people become enemies or stay in the constant state of hostility. Good Luck to both the nations.

Nav | 9 years ago | Reply 2 things should be kept in mind... (1)She came for a Multilateral conference - called Heart of Asia and not for a Bilateral visit (2) Nothing will change on the ground until Composite Dialogue process starts... Now everything is bits and pieces...

JSM | 9 years ago | Reply @Aleem: Like Shri Lankan cricketers were treated.

hari | 9 years ago | Reply @Aleem: So the srilankan cricket team were not guests?! In Pakistan we sure have our worries and they are justified by actions.

Kolsat | 9 years ago | Reply @Aleem: Are you sure anybody is safe in pakistan? Every week someone shoots someone or blows up someone.

usman778 | 9 years ago | Reply Arun, your heart is in good place. please understand that the indus region has been separate political entity from gangetic and peninsular india for 7500 out of 8000 years. that is not to say we don't have similarities we can appreciate but an acknowledgement of the Indusland and its distinct experience is greatly appreciated. regards.

Usman | 9 years ago | Reply @Aditya: Aditya. To be VERY honest, I would be worried more about how she would be treated when she heads back to India by RSS, if I were her. They might be gathering containers of black ink and waiting at the airport as we speak.

Wasim Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply @Aamir - Toronto: How have our minorities fared ? Also why are you not nation building in Pakistan rather than fleeing to Toronto ?

salman | 9 years ago | Reply @Aditya: She is not a guest in any country like India. Thanks.

Aleem | 9 years ago | Reply @Aditya: Have some decency. For you to even make a statement like "she returns safely from there unharmed." is an insult. Our hospitality has no bounds and we treat our guests, no matter what their political persuasion may be, with utmost respect and dignity.

ARUN | 9 years ago | Reply Dear All, When things are moving in right direction please encourage, no negative comments please. Once upon a time(Before 1947) we are all part of one country, we are all brothers and sisters, We had fought many wars who has benefited?? West and Russia Our people are starving , Billions of dollars are going for Armaments every year. If the money is diverted to poor Pakistan and India will be one of the richest nations. think in this direction

goggi (Lahore) | 9 years ago | Reply I wish wholeheartedly that Ms Swaraj is elected from the Indian people as their next PM of India.

mustafa | 9 years ago | Reply Talk on Kashmir to stop their bloodshed and respect the will of people there..Kashmiri's have long struggle for independence

Timorlane | 9 years ago | Reply To show its gratitude nawaz regime may hand over Azad Kashmir to india in return for cricket series I am afraid. By the way reportedly Shahbaz Sharif's trader son Salman Sharif has assured Tata group of giving them HDTV license in Pakisan.

Shakil Ahmed Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Aditya: How many of your ministers got hurt in Pakistan? They all get respect and nothing else, Pakistanis are best hosts!

Aamir - Toronto | 9 years ago | Reply @ Aditya....Don't worry, she will be not be harm in Pakistan unlike the minorities in India !!!

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply @Aditya: Had it been RSS in Pakistan, they'd happily harm her just for setting foot here. Meanwhile not even Pakistan's blind cricket team captains are safe in India.

Haseeb | 9 years ago | Reply Welcome to Islamabad Dear Neighbor.

Aditya | 9 years ago | Reply OMG! Sushma Swaraj in Pakistan! She is such a power lady with strong head. I hope she returns safely from there unharmed.

Acorn Guts | 9 years ago | Reply Welcome! We all hope for a lasting and praceful friendship between our great countries.

Ahmad | 9 years ago | Reply Welcome Sushma Swaraj in Pakistan.

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