New Delhi: Indian sources said Bangkok was chosen as a venue for the meeting of Indian and Pakistani NSAs because of the “convenience” of both sides. As foreign secretary S. Jaishankar was already in Tokyo over plans for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s forthcoming visit to India later this week, and the Pakistani side was also travelling, it was decided to meet in Bangkok due to the “convenience” of the two sides, a source said.
The Bangkok meeting also paves the way for external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad later this week, on December 8, to attend a multilateral conference on Afghanistan.
Sunday’s breakthrough clearly indicates the Modi-Sharif meeting in Paris was more than a sudden encounter and “exchange of courtesies” as had been claimed by the Indian side, although Mr Sharif had said that the “doors of dialogue should open”.
