PHOTO: AFP
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a summit in Russia this week, sources told NDTV.
“The two leaders will meet in the Russian city of Ufa, on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,” sources said on Monday. The meeting is set to take place on July 10.
Read: Nawaz, Modi may meet at Russia summit
Further, the source said the Indian premier’s call to PM Nawaz to convey his greetings on the advent of the Islamic holy month of Ramazan thawed relations between the two countries. However, the source added, “This in no way indicates the resumption of dialogue just yet.”
Though there is no official admission of the meeting, sources said, “PM Modi is expected to raise India's concerns on terrorism, including the release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi who was released earlier this year.”
Read: Pakistan, India to start process of joining China security bloc
Later during the day, the Foreign Office confirmed PM Nawaz will attend the summit but did not state whether he will meet his Indian counterpart or not.
“The prime minister will also hold important bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SCO Summit,” the FO statement said, without giving further details.
“As an Observer State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Pakistan has been making substantive contribution to regional peace, security and development,” the statement added.
Further, last week, Islamabad hinted at a possible meet up between the two premiers on the sidelines of the upcoming regional cooperation summit in Russia.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation, is scheduled to meet in the Russian city of Ufa on July 9 and 10 with both India and Pakistan likely to be granted full-membership of the forum formed in 2001.
“No side has contacted the other for a meeting, but in any multilateral setting, meetings among heads of states are a normal feature,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah had said.
Read: Verbal duel ceases for now as Modi calls Nawaz
Nawaz and Modi last met at the SAARC summit in Kathmandu last November, though they did not hold formal talks.
This article originally appeared on NDTV.
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