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| Terror, bilateral ties dominate Modi-Sharif talks | | | Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, May 27: During extended talks between Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi today terror dominated the show. Initially talks were scheduled to be held for 35 minutes but they were extended to 50 minutes to allow Modi to convey India's concern over terror emanating from Pakistan.
Modi wanted terror to end so that bilateral talks could proceed and allow India and Pakistan to witness tension free ties. Reports said that when Nawaz Sharif informed Modi that Pakistan continued to be a victim of terror India's Prime Minister reminded him of the delay in convicting those involved in Mumbai mayhem of 2008 when most of those involved in these attacks were freely moving around in Pakistan. In this context Modi is said to have referred to Hafiz Sayeed who had announced his opposition to Nawaz Sharif' accepting Modi's invite and visiting New Delhi.
Modi is said to have referred to the recent attack on the Indian consulate in Heart in Afghanistan and told Nawaz Sharif that the attackers belonged to Lashkar-i-Toiba, that has roots and hideouts in Pakistan.
Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh among others during the talks with Sharif, who arrived here to attend Modi's swearing-in on Monday. The two leaders had a firm handshake and posed for photographers before heading towards the meeting room for talks at the ceremonial Hyderabad House. According to sources, no breakthrough was expected during the meeting which will provide the two leaders an opportunity to cultivate personal relations, which may go a long a way in reducing tensions.
Ahead of his meeting, Sharif had on Monday said he was carrying a message of peace and intends to pick up the threads with India's new leader Narendra Modi from where he and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee left off in 1999. Both Governments have a strong mandate which could help in "turning a new page in our relations", the Pakistan Prime Minister had said. Sharif's visit is seen as significant by political observers here given that hardline elements in Pakistan have expressed their unhappiness over his responding to the invitation positively
Reports from across the border said that Nawaz Sharif raised some bilateral issues. According to these reports, the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi was held in New Delhi on today to discuss bilateral issues.
Sharif earlier reached the Hyderabad House to meet with the newly-elect Indian Premier. Media representatives from across the globe gathered outside the Hyderabad House to cover the historic first bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz said to Modi that the meeting was an auspicious occurrence for both the countries and, Pakistan and India both have many traditional and cultural similarities.
Nawaz stressed upon the strengthening of shared values and customs, saying that poverty and illiteracy should be eliminated from the region.
While denouncing arms race Prime Minister Nawaz expressed regret that both the countries wasted valuable time and resources in the past, adding that if the talks failed this time the history would not let the issue subside. |
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