Did India, Pakistan break the ice?

Pakistani and Indian foreign ministers held an informal meeting, away from the media's prying eyes, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting, official and diplomatic sources confirmed to The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

Before coming to Islamabad, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had ruled out any bilateral meeting with Pakistani officials, but what happened during the SCO conference was the first sign of a potential thaw between the two neighbours.

The Express Tribune gathered details through reliable sources that how discreet messaging during the conference led to a seating arrangement that allowed Jaishankar to sit alongside Dar during the luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the SCO delegates.

According to sources, a positive atmosphere emerged as both sides toned down their rhetoric in their speeches. Prime Minister Shehbaz, adhering to the SCO charter, avoided raising bilateral issues with India at the forum.

Jaishankar's speech, meanwhile, was more measured than his recent hardline remarks against Pakistan. While he mentioned terrorism and extremism as obstacles to regional cooperation, the usual Pakistan-bashing tone was notably absent.

The sources said that Pakistan and India agreed to lower the rhetoric despite having strained ties. India agreed that it would not indulge in any blame game if Pakistan prime minister confined his speech to the SCO charter.

After the prime minister and the Indian foreign minister's speeches went as per plan, the two sides exchanged messages to arrange seating during the luncheon in a manner that both the foreign ministers could sit together.

According to the sources, no details were available about the informal discussions between Dar and Jaishankar but they said the talks went beyond mere pleasantries.

Contrary to Bilawal Bhtto Zardari's last year visit to Goa for the SCO foreign ministers meeting that ended in more acrimony, the outcome of Jaishankar's trip to Islamabad lowered some chill in the relationship.

This can be judged from the fact that the Indian foreign minister before departing from Islamabad thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz, Foreign Minister Dar and the government of Pakistan for extending hospitality and courtesy.

This was a clear departure from the recent rhetoric between the two countries. Jaishankar in particular adopted a hardline stance towards Pakistan. However, Jaishankar's visit to Islamabad apparently prompted him to change his approach.

"This is certainly a signalling and the positive one," remarked a Pakistani official, while requesting anonymity. However, the official cautioned against undue expectations about any immediate breakthrough. "It is a step in the right direction but [still] a long way to go," the official added.

Relationship between Pakistan and India has remained at a standstill and tense for many years. It took the two sides seven years to have first public handshake, when Prime Minister Shehbaz received Jaishankar for the dinner-reception a day before the SCO meeting.

But the second handshake, which looked more comfortable, took place only few hours later when Shehbaz greeted Jaishankar upon arrival at the Jinnah Convention Centre for the summit meeting.

Unlike the dinner meeting, Jaishankar looked at far more ease so was Prime Minister Shehbaz when they shook hands for the second time in less than 24 hours.

Another sign that both sides made deliberate attempt not to create any unpleasant situations for each other was that Jaishankar left Islamabad without any media interaction not even with his own journalists, who were in Islamabad to cover the SCO.

The Pakistani side also made sure that the Indian delegation had a comfortable stay in Islamabad. The sources agreed that after many years there appeared to be some opening but they are not too optimistic about any major breakthrough given the stakes and political capital the two countries may lose if they show any flexibility in their respective positions.