India-Pakistan agree to get peace talks back on track

Modi has accepted Nawaz's invite to Pakistan. The date has not been decided as yet.


Web Desk May 27, 2014
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) shaking hands with Indian premier Narendra Modi (R) just before the start of the bilateral meeting. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has returned to Pakistan after meeting with Indian premier Narendra Modi for much-anticipated talks in New Delhi, Express News reported on Tuesday.

The immediate expectation is that the meeting will pave way for the resumption of the stalled peace process between the two nuclear-armed countries.

In his statement to the media, Nawaz had said that the meeting with the Indian premier was good and constructive, adding that the two leaders had agreed that the meeting should be a historic opportunity for their respective countries.

Nawaz had also said that they were both at the beginning of their respective tenures with a clear mandate.



5:11pm

Nawaz expected to depart shortly.

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4:32pm

Nawaz ended his press conference to the media without a Q&A session. The premier did not address the Kashmir issue and the water dispute.

https://twitter.com/EllenBarryNYT/statuses/471253085302444032

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4:28pm

"It is important for us to work together for peace, and the people from both countries want us to focus on the peace process," the premier said, adding they would work towards economic revival which is not possible without peace.

Nawaz also said that peace can be facilitated through people-to-people interaction.

"My government stands to solve all these problems with sincerity," the premier added.

According to the Times of India, Nawaz said that he is pleased to be in New Delhi at the invitation of Modi.

 



Express News screengrab of PM Nawaz addressing the media after a long wait.

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4:27pm

"The meeting in New Delhi was a historic opportunity for both countries," Nawaz said while speaking to the media.

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4:26pm

Nawaz is addressing the media, Express News reported.

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4:04pm

Modi has accepted Nawaz's invite to Pakistan. The date has not been decided as yet.

India is looking to open the Wagah-Atari border for full trade, IBN reported.

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3:57pm

As the wait for Nawaz's press conference increases, people are getting curious about the meeting.







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3:55pm

In response to a question about the Mumbai attacks after the presser, Singh replied that she cannot make a statement on behalf of the Pakistan Foreign Office.

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3:53pm



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3:52pm

Nawaz Sharif meets BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha

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3:30pm

In a press conference addressing the media, the Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said that the underlining concern of the meeting between Modi and Nawaz is related to terrorism, Express News reports.

The Indian premier expressed that Pakistan should extend help to India in a speedy trial regarding the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and conviction of those held responsible.

The PMs agreed that the foreign secretaries of both countries will remain in touch, and both countries can immediately move towards full trade normalisation on the basis of the September 2012 Pakistan-India roadmap.

According to AFP, Singh also said that, "there was discussion on trade and we noted that we were fully ready to fully normalise trade and economic relations. Both prime ministers expressed their interest in having this done as early as possible."

Modi further is hopeful that relations will improve in the political, cultural, economic fields in the same manner as India's relations have improved with other SAARC neighbours have progressed in recent years.

He shared his vision of a SAARC region based on development and mutual prosperity.



Express News screengrab of Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.

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3:26pm

Nawaz was supposed to address the media at 2pm, but the press conference is yet to take place.

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3:05pm

Nawaz had a one-on-one meeting with Modi which lasted 15 minutes, Express News reports.

"You're a man of peace," Modi said to Nawaz.

According to Islamabad Bureau Chief Amir Ilyas Rana, Modi told Nawaz that his attendance is a good omen for India.

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2:55pm

Terror dominates Modi-Nawaz talks including the attack on the Indian consulate in Herat and Mumbai attacks, NDTV reported.

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2:35pm

The Chinese foreign embassy wishes for better relations between India and Pakistan.

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2:30pm

Referring to his meeting with Modi, IBN Live quoted Nawaz as saying, " The meeting was excellent. We are positive. We are looking forward to a positive outcome."

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2:18pm

Nawaz's press conference is about to start soon.



Express News screengrab of the venue for Nawaz's press conference.





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1:52pm

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee meets Nawaz to discuss bilateral relations.

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1:40pm

Nawaz meets former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence.



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1:38pm

Express News reported Modi put forward five demands during the meeting. One of them being a probe into the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

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1:28pm

Terror attacks must end, Indian premier Narendra Modi tells Nawaz, reports Times Now.

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1:20pm

Nawaz says that the future of 1.5 billion people depends upon the two leaders and that both countries do not want to be involved in an arms race but want peace. The two leaders also discussed matters pertaining to terrorism as well.

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1:10pm

According to Indian media, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will hold a press conference at 2pm.

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1:00pm

The meeting between Nawaz and Modi that lasted 45 minutes has now ended.

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12:10pm

Nawaz was warmly welcomed by Modi at the entrance of Hyderabad House. The two leaders shook hands and posed for cameras before the start of the meeting.

Nawaz is accompanied by his advisers on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, Tariq Fatemi and foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry while the Indian premier is accompanied by India’s new Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

 



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) walks with India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting in New Delhi on May 27, 2014. PHOTO: AFP

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9:00am

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pays a visit to the historic Jamia Masjid of Delhi.


Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (3rd L) walks with Syed Ahmed Bukhari (L), the Shahi Imam (grand cleric) of the 17th century Jama Masjid, during his visit to the historical mosque in New Delhi on May 27. PHOTO: AFP



Times of India reported that while Modi’s meeting with other South Asian leaders who attended his oath-taking ceremony are scheduled to last for 25 minutes, his meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Nawaz will take 35 minutes each.

Although these are believed to be ‘courtesy meetings’, a foreign ministry official had told The Express Tribune that given the composition of the prime minister’s delegation, the Nawaz-Modi rendezvous is likely to be more than just a courtesy call.

COMMENTS (84)

VINOD | 10 years ago | Reply

@rehan: I repeat my self, dress, in today's world, has nothing to do with being national. And heads of states/ political leaders are not school boys or sports team who wear some sort of uniform. I give up, be happy and declare that your PM is not national or some thing. Your will. Thanks.

VINOD | 10 years ago | Reply

@BRUISED INDIAN: "On your Chaiwala remark, my Respected Prime Minister & like all voters who voted him to power takes pride in his humble origins, however much you castigate his humble beginnings by passing distasteful........."

@Rex Minor.....I fully agree with Bruised Indian. I am sure it is beyond you to understand the meaning of Democracy Or some thing like ' government of the people by the people.....' You are so used to be ruled by Army and some time by landlords, Jirga lords, Jagirdars that you can not comprehend a "chaiwala" with his leadership ability and hard work can rise to lead a country that is the biggest democracy on earth to day. So Sir, be happy and keep simmering in your own world of ignorance.

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