India’s Modi accepts invite for first Pakistan visit
The Pakistani PM invited his Indian counterpart after the two met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted an invitation Friday from his counterpart Nawaz Sharif to attend a regional summit in Islamabad next year in what would be his first visit to Pakistan.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Pakistan for the SAARC Summit in 2016. Prime Minister Modi accepted that invitation,” said a joint statement from the governments after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the ongoing BRICS summit in Russia.
Indian officials had previously refused to confirm Modi's participation at the next summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), usually attended by leaders of eight countries in the region.
While Sharif did attend Modi's inauguration in May last year, the nationalist Indian premier has not visited Pakistan since coming to power and relations between the two governments have been cool in recent months.
India has been particularly infuriated by delays in legal proceedings against the suspected mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai bombings who it wants extradited.
In the statement, the two governments said they would “discuss ways and means” to expedite the legal process, including the sharing of voice samples.
They also announced that their respective national security advisors would meet in New Delhi to discuss “terrorism” although they did not set a date for the talks.
And officials responsible for security on both sides of their sometimes volatile border would also meet soon, according to the statement which was read out to reporters in Russia by the two countries' foreign secretaries.
Modi and Sharif met while attending a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which is being held in the Russian city of Ufa.
-
Are India and Pakistan close to a new peace initiative?
Pakistan and India are likely to have a chance to make some progress toward improving bitter bilateral relations late next month when the foreign ... Opinion -
Pakistan frees alleged Mumbai attacks mastermind, angering India
Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, accused over the terror siege that left 166 dead, was released late on Thursday Asia -
India more relieved than elated after beating Pakistan
India's players were more relieved than excited by the 76-run victory Sports -
Pakistan, India trade fire in Kashmir, killing two
Pakistani and Indian border guards traded artillery fire along the disputed border region of Kashmir, killing two people and wounding eight, officials ... Asia -
Pakistan, India swap lists of nuclear facilities, prisoners
The annual New Year’s Day exchange was established under a 1988 agreement Asia -
India: Pakistani agencies backing terror groups
India has long accused Pakistan of fomenting conflict by arming and training anti-India militants in Kashmir Asia -
India’s Modi wants Pakistan talks without ‘terrorism’ shadow
Modi says that he wants to hold bilateral talks with neighboring Pakistan ‘without a shadow of terrorism’ Asia -
Pakistan and India – age old enemies in uncertain times
Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif dashed to New Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi World -
Pakistan wary as Hindu extremists rally in India
Political rivals in India are bracing for the world’s biggest and longest elections World -
Should Pakistan and India be equal trade partners?
Pakistan-India trade needs to be debated seriously, without referring to ‘bitter’ history and becoming a hostage to the past World