ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the prime minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Tuesday held a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid in New Delhi.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. Both sides reviewed bilateral relations in a constructive and forward looking manner, said a statement issued by Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs.
According to a statement issued by the Indian ministry of external affairs, both diplomats agreed in the meeting on importance of having a meeting of DGMOs of the two countries at the earliest to address the issue of LoC violation.
In addition, there were also discussions about other agenda issues including the Mumbai trial, said the statement.
Aziz, who is currently on a three-day official visit in New Delhi, participated in a Europe-Asia meeting on Monday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to host a dinner for the foreign ministers participating in the two-day conference at which the Pakistani diplomat could get an opportunity to talk to him briefly.
It was not clear if there would be a separate call on the prime minister by the Pakistani premier’s adviser.
Sartaj Aziz also held a meeting with leaders of Hurriyat Conference on Sunday, who reminded him to include Kashmiris in future peace talks between India and Pakistan.
They also told him that recent military flare-ups at the Line of Control (LoC) were against the interests of civilians on both sides of the divide.
The Indian foreign minister has said India was prepared to give the historic rival “the benefit of the doubt” as the two countries strive for peace.
In an interview with The Australian newspaper published Monday, Khurshid admitted the relationship was fraught.
“We talk to Pakistan periodically and in terms of personal gestures we receive great warmth,” he said. “But the on-the-ground reality and the results of our meetings are very disappointing.”
The nuclear-armed neighbours have since independence been at loggerheads over Kashmir, which is divided and administered separately by India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.
