No formal meeting of PM Modi and Nawaz Sharif today at SAARC Summit in Kathmandu

Kathmandu: Prime Minister NarendraModi will not have a bilateral meeting or any kind of formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, at the SAARC on Wednesday.

There has been a buzz whether there will be an India-Pakistan bilateral meeting ahead of the Summit. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson on Tuesday night ended the speculation.

Read: Pakistan ready for talks but India will have to take first step: Nawaz Sharif in Nepal

PM Modi will meet the heads of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan, with Pakistan being conspicuously absent.

Pakistan has reportedly opposed India's proposals on greater connectivity at the summit.

Read: Pakistan plays spoiler at SAARC

As reported by Geo News, Pakistan is ready to hold talks with India but New Delhi will have to take the initiative.

Nawaz Sharif said, “cancellation of talks was New Delhi's unilateral decision,” and the “ball is now in India’s court for talks between both the countries.”

Significantly, PM Modi’s official itinerary did not mention any structured meeting with Sharif.