All issues will be discussed with Indian Foreign Secretary: pak
Lahore: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said Pakistan would welcome the visit of India’s Foreign Secretary to the country during which “all issues, including Kashmir” will be discussed.
New Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s visit was announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday called his Pakistani counterpart Sharif and other heads of the SAARC nations participating in the ICC Cricket World Cup and
conveyed best wishes for the showpiece event.
The cricket diplomacy was considered as ice-breaking after a six-month hiatus in Indo-Pak ties.
India broke off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan in August at the eleventh hour because the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi held consultations with Kashmiri separatists.
Prime Minister Modi announced that Jaishankar will undertake a “SAARC yatra” soon to strengthen relationship with the countries, including Pakistan.
Significantly, Modi’s telephonic call to Sharif on Saturday came hours after US President Barack Obama spoke with the Pakistani Prime Minister.
Addressing the CPNE, Sharif also asserted that he believed in a free and independent media and judiciary but it was crucial for the media to hold itself accountable.
He also said that the military operation against militants in North Waziristan will continue until the area is cleared of terrorists.
