Indian foreign secretary to visit Pakistan next week
US President Obama played crucial role to persuade Narendra Modi to re-engage in dialogue with Pakistan, sources say
Indian foreign secretary, S. Jaishankar. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In a move that may help the two nuclear-armed neighbours to resume their stalled peace process, Indian foreign secretary is expected to arrive in the federal capital next week.
A foreign office official confirmed to The Express Tribune on Tuesday that Indian Foreign Secretary S Jiashankar would be visiting Islamabad in the first week of March.
The top Indian diplomat is visiting Pakistan as part of his trip to member states of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
However, the ‘SAARC card’ is apparently being used by Indian government for domestic compulsions.
It is believed that US President Barrack Obama played a crucial role in persuading Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to re-engage in dialogue with Pakistan.
On February 13, Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and conveyed him that he was sending the foreign secretary to all SAARC countries, including Pakistan.
The Indian foreign secretary will hold crucial talks with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
According to the foreign office officials, agenda of the talks is being finalised. The officials added that all issues including future of the composite dialogue would be discussed.
Jiashankar’s visit of foreign secretary is seen as significant development as this may help ease tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbors.
In a move that may help the two nuclear-armed neighbours to resume their stalled peace process, Indian foreign secretary is expected to arrive in the federal capital next week.
A foreign office official confirmed to The Express Tribune on Tuesday that Indian Foreign Secretary S Jiashankar would be visiting Islamabad in the first week of March.
The top Indian diplomat is visiting Pakistan as part of his trip to member states of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
However, the ‘SAARC card’ is apparently being used by Indian government for domestic compulsions.
It is believed that US President Barrack Obama played a crucial role in persuading Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to re-engage in dialogue with Pakistan.
On February 13, Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and conveyed him that he was sending the foreign secretary to all SAARC countries, including Pakistan.
The Indian foreign secretary will hold crucial talks with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
According to the foreign office officials, agenda of the talks is being finalised. The officials added that all issues including future of the composite dialogue would be discussed.
Jiashankar’s visit of foreign secretary is seen as significant development as this may help ease tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbors.