Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the SAARC Summit scheduled for November 9-10 in Islamabad. The invitation was on Thursday handed over by Sharif’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Pokhara where the Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries held a meeting.
Pathankot terror attack figured predominantly in the over 20-minute meeting between Sushma and Aziz, the first political-level engagement between the two sides after the
January 2 terror strike. India has been pressing Pakistan for action over the brazen assault on the key IAF base.
In another major development, the dates for Pakistan’s Joint Investigation Team (JIT)’s s arrival was announced by Sushma. The JIT, probing the Pathankot airbase attack, will arrive in India on March 27, to take forward its investigations into the role of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Pakistan nationals in the attack. Making an announcement in this regard from Pokhara, Sushma said that a lot of other pending issues too were discussed with Aziz in a “positive atmosphere”. On his part, Aziz complimented the way the Pathankot issue was handled and the cooperation extended on both sides.
“It is not possible that Pathankot be not discussed in my meeting with Sartaj Aziz. The date for JIT visit has been decided. It will arrive on (March) 27th night and will begin their work on March 28,” Swaraj said addressing the media with Aziz after the two leaders held talks on the sidelines of the SAARC ministerial meeting. The date for JIT visit was proposed by Pakistan which India accepted. Asked if the JIT would visit the Pathankot air base, government sources said the modalities of the visit will be worked out in the coming days.
Swaraj and Aziz met for about 20 minutes to give a fresh momentum to the paused India-Pak talks ever since Pathankot episode took place in January. The proposed talks between Foreign Secretaries in January too got deferred in the process even though the two FS and National Security Advisors (NSAs) have been regularly in touch.
Swaraj said that the understanding between the two Governments is slowly getting better. “I must say this SAARC atmosphere was different from the previous ones. Some issues which were unresolved between our two countries, we have taken a decision on them in a very positive manner,” Swaraj said while referring to her talks with Aziz.
Aziz too sounded positive with the outcome of talks and said the meeting was held in a very good atmosphere as all issues where there were hiccups were discussed and resolved. “We also discussed various issues where we had differences and on how to make SAARC more effective. It is hopeful that from now till then (SAARC Summit in November), some issues in which work has to be done, will be done,” Aziz said.
During his meeting with Swaraj, Aziz recalled the November 30 meeting between Modi and Sharif and said that this was followed up by a meeting between the National Security Advisors of the two countries in Bangkok after six days. “Three days later, Sushmaji arrived in Islamabad and it was decided that comprehensive bilateral dialogue will restart. Prime Minister Modi had also arrived in lahore after that to wish Prime Minister Sharif. But the Pathankot attack became a hurdle,” he said, complimenting the cooperation on both sides after that.
Aziz added there was a possibility of the two PMs meeting in Washington during the Nuclear Security Summit end of this month. “Not sure whether there will be a structured dialogue but hopeful that they will meet in the US on the sidelines of the nuclear summit,” he said.