PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif met on Monday on the sidelines of the UN climate summit, with India describing the encounter as a ‘brief exchange of courtesies’, but Pakistan terming it a ‘good’ meeting. Modi and Sharif had a brief meeting during which they warmly held hands before sitting down for a chat.“Pakistan desires better ties with India. We want peace without compromising our dignity and honour. If both sides agree, then it’s not possible that the talks are not taken ahead” he said PTI

A US-inspired opening

Modi should respond to Nawaz’s overtures

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Pakistan counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, on Monday in Paris, he had already been presented with another opportunity to discuss irritants in bilateral ties. In his 18 months as Prime Minister, two attempts at opening talks with Pakistan were unable to breach the Hurriyat barrier. Last week, Nawaz Sharif made an open-ended statement soon after Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif returned from a US visit. Nawaz said he was ready for talks with India without any preconditions. Thus the offer for talks comes with a `no preconditions’ label, meaning that Pakistan is bound to include Kashmir in the agenda of any future bilateral talks. The Americans have been at work because they do not want India-Pakistan rivalry to spill over into Afghanistan and upset the reconciliation with the Taliban. India has so far not reacted after the Modi-Nawaz meeting but the social media is already into an anti-talks overdrive. Its right wing corner is even against an India-Pakistan cricket series, asking what has changed to break bread with a country unrepentant about fomenting terrorism in India. Pakistan is already under tremendous pressure to reign in terror outfits patronised by its intelligence agencies. In addition to terrorism, Indian willingness to discuss Kashmir could strengthen the hands of the two Sharifs in muzzling anti-India militant outfits.There is always the possibility that Nawaz Sharif might be showing his best profile in view of next week’s conference on Afghanistan to be held in Islamabad. After all it will not reflect well on Pakistan, with its claims to part-ownership of the Afghan peace process, to stage an international meet without Indian participation. Even if that is the case, Narendra Modi would do well to seize this opening. As Farooq Abdullah has said, war is not an option to resolve the Kashmir dispute and not all the forces in the country will be able to control militancy in the state. The two Sharifs may be focused on a short-term strategy. But because normalcy in India-Pakistan is a long-haul issue, Modi should have responded positively to the overture.

Political parties welcome Modi-Sharif meeting in Paris

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 30
It is not clear what transpired between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in Paris today, but the mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the brief courtesy meeting of Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif.
Ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP and the opposition National Conference and Congress have all hailed the gesture of the two Prime Ministers during the ongoing global summit on climate change. The two Prime Ministers shook hands and met for a couple of minutes.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over 18 months ago, the Secretary-level and NSA-level talks were called off between the two sides. After the oath ceremony of Modi in New Delhi, the two Prime Ministers met in Ufa, Russia, in July this year.
The PDP has welcomed the latest development maintaining that it has always wished that the two neighbours should come closer because “Kashmir is a victim of Indo-Pak animosity”. The party’s general secretary, Nizamuddin Bhat, said it was good if the heads of the two neigbouring states “meet and discuss international and sub-continental politics. Such things are always welcome”. Bhat said it would help build the much-needed relations between the two countries. “We hope that the two leaders have come to an understanding for reconciliation and mutual cooperation in the interests of the people of the two countries,” Bhat added.
Congress spokesman Ravinder Sharma described it as a “positive development”. He held that there could not be any substitute for peace and dialogue between the two countries even as he added that talks and terrorism could not go together. Sharma referred to the increase in militancy-related incidents across J&K and the cross-border firing. “We cannot move ahead …even now a conducive atmosphere between the two countries is lacking,” he said.
The National Conference also welcomed the two Prime Ministers’ meeting in Paris. “Dialogue is always welcome as it leads to a peaceful atmosphere,” said Nasir Aslam Wani, provincial president of the National Conference and a former Minister. He held that that it was a good development but stressed the need to resume dialogue between the two countries for a peaceful atmosphere in the region. “This is going to help,” Wani added.

PM warns against unilateral steps

Paris, November 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight cautioned against any unilateral steps that could lead to an economic barrier in the battle against climate change as he hoped that the developed countries would mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation.Addressing the COP 21 conference here, Modi also hoped that the developed countries would fulfil their commitments in a transparent manner. “The principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities must remain the bedrock of our collective enterprise,” Modi said, adding that there should be aggressive mitigative action by developed countries by 2020.Modi also underlined the need for a national will and genuine global partnership while taking steps to hammer out a climate change deal. “We look to the developed countries to mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation,” he said.Noting that conventional energy was still needed, he said it should be made clean and an end to its use should not be imposed. “And, there should be no place for unilateral steps that become economic barriers for others,” he said.Modi called on the developed nations to fulfil their commitment in a credible, transparent and meaningful manner. As negotiators from over 190 countries sit down over the next few days to hammer out an agreement, Modi said developed nations, which had a larger carbon footprint, should take the lead in addressing the climate change issues. “It is not just a question of historical responsibility. We hope advanced nations will assume ambitious targets and pursue them as they have the most room for impact,” Modi said.The PM also told the audience that democratic India must grow rapidly to meet the aspirations of 1.25 billion people, 300 million of whom are without access to energy. “The prosperous still have a strong carbon footprint, but the world’s billions at the bottom of the development ladder are seeking space to grow,” Modi said. — PTI

India will act responsibly, Modi tells Obama

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the summit and assured him of India’s positive response on climate change
“India will fulfil expectations from it and its responsibilities…the country is working to take forward development and (protecting) environment together,” Modi said at a joint press event with Obama.