Narendra Modi, Nawaz Sharif see historic opportunity in talks, 'time to rid region of instability'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday to crack down on militant groups while stressing his desire for closer economic ties, the foreign ministry said.

Modi "underlined our concerns related to terrorism" to Sharif during landmark talks in new delhi on the first day of his term in office, said Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.

"We want peaceful and friendly relations with Pakistan. However, for such relations to proceed it is important that terror and violence is brought to an end," Singh told reporters after the meeting.

She added that modi conveyed the message that Islamabad must "abide by its commitment to prevent its territory and territory it controls being used to stage terror attacks on India".

Sharif, a pro-business industrialist, said he saw the talks as an "historic opportunity" to improve ties between the South Asian countries, which have fought three wars since Independence in 1947.

"We should rid the region of instability and insecurity that has plagued us for decades. consequently, it was important for us to work together for peace, progress and prosperity," he told reporters.

But he said he also told modi that engaging in "accusations and counter-accusations would be counter-productive."

Modi held bilateral meetings with sharif and other regional leaders who attended his swearing-in ceremony on monday, including afghan president hamid karzai and sri lankan president mahinda rajapakse.

In an unprecedented move, Modi invited sharif and the other leaders to his inauguration, signalling his intention to be a strong regional leader after his right-wing party's landslide general election victory.

It gives him a powerful mandate to reach out to Pakistan to try to mend strained relations, which completely broke down after attacks in mumbai in 2008 by pakistani militants that killed 166 people.

Although ties have improved slightly, tensions remain amid mutual distrust and regular skirmishes along their disputed Kashmir border.

During tuesday's talks modi also underlined his desire to improve commercial ties, Singh said.

"There was discussion on trade and we noted that we were fully ready to fully normalise trade and economic relations. both prime ministers expressed their interest in having this done as early as possible," Singh said.

Trade between the two countries is presently around $2.5 billion, with indian exports accounting for $1.75 billion.

Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif too pitched for "working together" in his maiden meeting with newly-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said both will have to strive to change confrontation into cooperation.

Sharif, who attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony yesterday, described his meeting as "good and constructive" and said they have agreed that their Foreign Secretaries would be meeting soon to review and carry forward the bilateral agenda in the spirit of today's meeting.

Before his departure for Pakistan, Sharif met the press and read out a statement which said that his government stands ready to discuss all issues between the two countries, in a spirit of cooperation and sincerity.

"We agreed that our meeting in New Delhi, should be a historic opportunity for both our countries. I pointed out that we were at the beginning of our respective tenures, with a clear mandate. This provides us the opportunity of meeting the hopes and aspirations of our peoples that we will succeed in turning a new page in our relations. The one and a half billion people of the two countries want us to focus on their well-being and welfare," he said.

During his 45-minute long meeting, Sharif said he also recalled his invitation to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore in February 1999 and that he "intended to pick up the threads of the Lahore Declaration, from where it had to be left off in October 1999".

"I stressed to Prime Minister Modi that we have a common agenda of development and economic revival, which is not possible to achieve without peace and stability in the region. I urged that together, we should rid the region of instability and insecurity, that has plagued us for decades.”

"Consequently, it was important for us to work together for peace, progress and prosperity. Finally, I urged that we had to strive to change confrontation into cooperation.”

“Engaging in accusations and counter-accusations would be counter-productive, I emphasised... After all, we owe it to our people to overcome the legacy of mistrust and misgivings," the Pakistan Prime Minister said.

He said they agreed that this common objective could be facilitated by greater people-to-people exchanges, at all levels.

"Prime Minister Modi warmly reciprocated my sentiments and remarked that my visit to New Delhi was seen as a special gesture by the people of India. He stated that it was incumbent on both of us to work together, to achieve our common objectives for peace and development.

"I take leave of this historic city. I do so with a strong sense that the leaderships and the peoples of our two countries share desire and mutual commitment to carry forward our relationship, for the larger good of our peoples," Sharif added.