Pakistan, India sound upbeat ahead of talks

Sushma says she came with hope for improved ties; Aziz expects positive change in relations

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and India have voiced optimism about easing strains in their relations ahead of crucial talks between their top foreign policy officials scheduled for Wednesday on the sidelines of a regional conference on Afghanistan.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend a ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process. She is the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan since 2012. Her trip came three days after the national security advisers of Pakistan and India met in Bangkok for surprise talks that helped ease tensions between the two neighbours.



“Relations between the two countries should improve and move forward,” Sushma told reporters soon after landing at the Nur Khan Airbase. Sushma said she has come to Pakistan to attend the conference on Afghanistan. “And it is appropriate and necessary for me to hold talks with Sartaj Aziz Sahib and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.”

Asked about the expectations from her visit, Sushma said she could only say anything after her meetings with Pakistani authorities. “I came here with the hope for improved ties between the two countries,” she added.

Later, the Indian foreign minister attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Office in honour of the visiting foreign dignitaries. Aziz warmly received Sushma and both shared the same table during the dinner. In a brief comment, Aziz said he was looking forward to meeting the Indian foreign minister, and hoped their talks would bring a positive change.

Efforts to normalise ties between the two countries took a dramatic turn over the last 10 days since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had a brief chit chat in Paris on November 30. Their informal interaction then led to the previously unannounced talks between National Security Adviser Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in Bangkok. The two sides agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement. Official sources said Sushma and Aziz will have formal talks on Wednesday. The foreign secretaries as well as other senior officials from the two sides will also attend the talks where they will explore the possibility of reviving the bilateral peace process.

Heart of Asia Conference begins

The ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process kicked off on Tuesday with focus on discussing a roadmap for political and economic stability in Afghanistan. High-powered delegations from 14 states, 17 supporting countries and 12 international and regional organisations are participating in the conference, said the Foreign Office in a statement.

Sartaj Aziz and Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai opened the meeting of the senior officials of the participating nations. The theme of the meeting, jointly hosted by Pakistan and Afghanistan, is ‘Heart of Asia — Istanbul Process: Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Connectivity in the Heart of Asia region’.

Premier Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will co-inaugurate the meeting on Wednesday where attendees will include foreign ministers from 10 countries, including Sushma Swaraj.

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the UAE are part of the initiative launched in 2011 for encouraging economic and security cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours for dealing with the common problems of terrorism, extremism and poverty.



Addressing the conference, Aziz highlighted Pakistan’s perspective for bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan. “Pakistan wants durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. Instability in Afghanistan is not in our interest. We will, therefore, continue to support all endeavours aiming at strengthening peace and security in Afghanistan,” he said.

He termed the Heart of Asia initiative an effective platform for promoting regional economic cooperation and connectivity in the Heart of Asia region with Afghanistan at its centre. “It provides the member countries an opportunity for engaging in result-oriented cooperation for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and a secure and prosperous region as a whole,” he added.

Aziz said as Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was maturing, focus had to be on strengthening engagement and collaboration with a view to effectively combating the formidable challenges confronting the region, in the field of security as well as promoting regional economic interaction.  “Conducive political and security environment is vital for promoting regional economic cooperation and connectivity,” he said.

“Our region is mired in dire security challenges which are hampering our socio-economic development. The theme of this Heart of Asia-Istanbul Conference “Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Connectivity in the Heart of Asia Region” is, therefore, pertinent to the needs of our region,” he noted.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2015.