New Delhi/Islamabad: Resuming talks after a gap of seven months, India and Pakistan on Tuesday agreed to “narrow differences” and reduce tension along the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB) while discussing each other’s “concerns and interests in an open manner”, with foreign secretary S. Jaishankar also raising the issue of terror, including the Mumbai attacks case, during the meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhary in Islamabad.
India and Pakistan “agreed to work together to find common ground and narrow differences”, with the two sides also agreeing that “ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border was vital”.
Mr Jaishankar also called on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who told him that dialogue is the only way to solve bilateral issues.
Pakistan described the meeting as an “ice-breaking development”, while the ministry of external affairs said in New Delhi that progress was being made in the “pursuit of normalisation of ties”.
Later, the Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said he informed his Indian counterpart about Pak’s concerns over Indian “involvement” in the instability in Balochistan, violations along the LoC and “our point of view on other bilateral issues”.
Regarding consultations with Kashmiri separatists, he said, “We have been in contact with the Kashmiri leaders.”
He also told that Mr Jaishankar delivered a letter from Mr Modi to Premier Sharif. “A letter has been delivered, but I cannot give more information,” said Mr Chaudhry.
