Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz shakes hands with Indian Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid during a meeting in New Delhi. PHOTO: AFP
The adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM) in New Delhi.
The two diplomats discussed matters relating to security and terrorism as well as recent tensions along the Line of Control (LoC). Both officials agreed that their respective governments needed to respect the LoC ceasefire agreement set in place some years ago.
During the meeting, Aziz told his Indian counterpart that Pakistan wants to pursue the path of peace with India and that the stalled process of talks should be revived at the earliest possible juncture.
The meeting, according to the foreign office, was held in a cordial atmosphere where both sides reviewed bilateral relations in a constructive and forward looking manner.”
Aziz, who is currently on a three-day official visit in New Delhi, also met with leaders of the Hurriyat Conference.
Commenting on the meeting, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, both officials agreed to push for a meeting of their Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) at an early date.
However, responding to a question before the bilateral meeting, Khurshid said that India had done whatever it could to help bring Pakistan to the dialogue table but that certain recent actions by Pakistan had “been counterproductive”.
The Indian external affairs minister dwelt at some length on answering this question and said that Delhi wanted Islamabad to follow its intentions with corresponding actions and that this was essential for the dialogue and peace process to move forward. His meeting with the Pakistani foreign affairs adviser followed right after this press conference.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2013.
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@VINOD: Well I'm afraid my friend but they(pakis) cant AFFORD to do so....#LOL
One simple question and will any one will answer it straight " Will Pakistan allow any Indian official to meet the rebels and terror groups in Pakistan and that too in the Capital????"
@Aschraful Makhlooq: your efforts of infiltrating? or spreading terrorism?
India's Minister of external affairs is Salman Khurshid and Indian foreign ministry spokesperson is Syed Akbaruddin. Does this make any sense to people of Pakistan? I wonder when will people of Pakistan realize that we have no designs over the land of Pakistan and we are not their enemy.
Have we not seen this same episode for like, million times before?? Why dont we just tell them to get their own country in order; before talking about peace?? Now we just need to wait for yet another incident at LOC......India would blame, pakistan would deny, and western world would just continue showing sympathy and keep playing with their toys(drone).....#PATHETIC
Aziz meets separatist in Pakistan mission. Now how will Pakistan feel if on each visit Indian minister invites all Balauchstan separatists in Indian mission in Islamabad. There is never sincerely in Pakistanis, they can never be trusted. Keep the status quo.
Your tour to India is only the wastage of time and money Sartaj Aziz because India may/shall never be satisfied by your every effort.......
We can have a dialogue with our worst enemy but not with our own countrymen.
Basically, India manhandled pak at the border but why are they soo low key always?.
how he sneaked into indian territory???