Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said all issues of concern between India and Pakistan were discussed today. He was speaking at a press conference following a meeting with his Indian counterpart.
He said issues ranging from India’s interference in Balochistan, the Samjhota Express case, and the line of control (LoC) ceasefire violations were brought to India’s attention.
“We also raised the issue of delay in the Samjhota Express investigation. No investigation details on the incident have been shared with us by India,” he said.
“Terrorism is not only Pakistan’s concern, but both countries are equally affected by it.”
He said the letter sent by Mr. Modi via Mr. Jaishankar had been handed over to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“We both have an understanding to fight and end terrorism. We are working to find a common ground from where we can start our joint efforts.”
When being asked whether the issue of Lakhvi came under discussion, Mr. Chaudhry said, “there wasn’t enough time to go into detail on every issue.”
Mr. Chaudhry made clear that the Indian foreign secretary had come to Pakistan on directives of Narendera Modi, who has asked him to visit all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries.
Mr. Chaudhry said the overall tone of the meeting was positive and that both countries are ready to reflect on matters of importance to them.
Earlier in the day, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House and discussed matters related to Saarc and bilateral ties between the two neighbours.
Nawaz welcomed the meeting between two foreign secretaries in Islamabad and hoped that process would continue. He underlined the importance of enhanced cooperation among Saarc member states.
Earlier, Jaishankar met Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry in Islamabad on Tuesday following his arrival in Pakistan for a two-day official visit.
Credible sources told that Secretary Chaudhry greeted his Indian counterpart warmly at the Foreign Office.
Senior officials from both sides are assisting in the talks which are the first since New Delhi called them off last year.
During the meeting, both foreign secretaries realised that peaceful dialogue is the only way forward to resolve all outstanding issues, sources told media persons.
Sources added that Chaudhry drew the Indian secretary's attention to the recent tensions at the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary.
Jaishankar said that he was happy to be visiting Pakistan and that he looks forward to having substantial and meaningful negotiations with Pakistani officials.
The primary agenda for the secretaries’ meeting was about promoting regional connectivity and trade even though both sides have an understanding about discussing bilateral matters.
Accompanied by a delegation of diplomats, Jaishankar was welcomed by officials from the Foreign Ministry as well as those from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Jaishankar is in Pakistan as part of a tour of Saarc countries. Secretary Jaishankar will also meet Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatimi.
Indian diplomatic sources told that Secretary Shankar is on a goodwill visit to Saarc countries and that only Saarc related matters would be discussed by him during his visit.
Islamabad is the third stop in Jaishankar’s Saarc trip that began on Sunday. He earlier visited Bhutan and Bangladesh. He will travel to Kabul from here on Wednesday.
The visit is taking place almost seven months after Delhi cancelled the last planned secretaries’ dialogue in August on the pretext that Pakistani High Commissioner in Delhi Abdul Basit had consulted Kashmiri leaders.
Both sides are to hold what officials have been describing as “talks for talks” (dialogue on resuming suspended talks).
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Bilateral relations discussed with Sartaj Aziz
Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on the first day of his two-day visit to Pakistan met the Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
According to sources, bilateral relations and the security situation in South Asia came under discussion during the meeting.
Jaishankar had earlier met the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatimi and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhry.
