Sushma meets Sharif, Aziz; Islamabad assures of speeding up probe into Mumbai attacks
Afzal Khan & Simran Sodhi
Tribune News Service
Islamabad/New Delhi, Dec 9
Ending months of deadlock, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today in Islamabad announced the resumption of a comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan that will include peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and Siachen.
In a joint statement issued after Swaraj met Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Pakistan PM on Foreign Affairs, both sides condemned terrorism and resolved to cooperate for eliminating it.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Swaraj announced that the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would meet and discuss the modalities to hold the comprehensive bilateral dialogue. “India and Pakistan have decided to restart the composite dialogue. It will now be called comprehensive bilateral dialogue. It will include all issues from composite dialogue and much more,” she said.
The two leaders noted the successful talks on terrorism and security-related issues in Bangkok by the two NSAs and decided that the NSAs would continue to address all issues related to terrorism. Pakistan has assured India of “steps to expedite the early conclusion” of the Mumbai attack trial, something that India has been pressing for long.
Both sides decided to ask the Foreign Secretaries to work out the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the dialogue, including peace and security, confidence-building measures, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism, narcotics control, humanitarian issues, people-to-people exchanges and religious tourism.
Earlier today, Swaraj called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Their hour-long meeting centred on improving bilateral ties and removing the irritants that have dogged the relation. Officials at the Pakistan PM’s house described the meeting as cordial and constructive.
Swaraj was received by Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz on her arrival at the PM’s residence. Greeting the External Affairs Minister with a smile, Sharif thanked her for coming to Pakistan.

Logjam off, talks on

• The Foreign Secretaries of the two countries to meet and discuss modalities for dialogue
• Comprehensive dialogue to include discussion on security, confidence-building measures, J&K, Siachen, economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism
• The national security advisers of the two sides will address all issues related to terrorism

India’s no to cricket ties

• India on Wednesday told Pakistan that there could be no cricket series between the two countries
• Sources in the foreign establishment said India conveyed the message during the bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Pakistan PM on Foreign Affairs
• Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan also confirmed the news in Pakistan