Islamabad: Pakistan will ask India to start foreign secretary level talks to improve ties when the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of the two nuclear armed neighbours meet on August 23, officials said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a brainstorming session with his core committee on Monday night to mull over what to keep on the agenda of the NSA talks and what to leave for the foreign secretary level meeting.
Apart from the resumption of FS-level talks, issue of bail granted to main accused in Samjhauta blasts are also on agenda. Pak finance minister Ishaq Dar, the official said, wants Sharif to approve some package for trade with India if the grant of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status was not possible.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to hold a meeting with top military leadership before Sartaj Aziz’s departure to India. Mr Aziz will visit New Delhi on August 23 for dialogue with his counterpart Ajit Doval.
India had proposed August 23-24 for the meeting in line with an agreement between Mr Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia last month. Indian had cancelled FS-level talks last year after the Pakistan High Commissioner held consultations with separatists.
