NEW DELHI, May 27:
India and Pakistan today decided to explore the way forward in bilateral ties through their Foreign Secretaries after a “constructive” meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi who voiced concerns over terrorism originating from Pakistan.
On his first day in office, Modi held talks with all the eight foreign leaders who attended his swearing-in ceremony yesterday, but his most substantive discussion was with Sharif who then returned home.
During the 45-minute meeting, Modi, who has been sharply critical of his predecessor Manmohan Singh’s Pakistan policy, expressed the hope that India-Pakistan relations would progress in the economic, cultural and political fields in the same manner that India’s relations with her other SAARC neighbours have progressed in recent years.
Briefing reporters on Modi’s meeting with Sharif and other SAARC leaders, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said Modi remarked that Pakistan must abide by its commitment to prevent its territory and the territory under its control from being used to spread terrorism against India.
Modi also hoped that necessary steps will be taken to expedite the trial in Pakistan relating to Mumbai terror attack case and ensure punishment to the accused, she said.
The Prime Ministers agreed that the Foreign Secretaries will remain in touch and explore how to move forward, Singh said. Significantly, the element of Foreign Secretaries meet to take forward the ties has been reintroduced by the two countries after nearly two years.
India and Pakistan have been, for the past two years, talking about meetings between their Director General of Military Operations in view of the spate of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).
Describing his meeting with Modi “good and constructive” Sharif, before his departure for Pakistan, read out a statement to media which said that his Government stands ready to discuss all issues between the two countries in a spirit of cooperation and sincerity.
During his visit, Sharif did not meet Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat representatives, a normal norm for most of the Pakistani leadership, nor did he mention Kashmir in his pre-departure statement.
During the meeting, Modi said the two countries could move towards full normalisation of trade on the basis of the September, 2012 road-map on political and economic relations.
On trade, the Foreign Secretary said the two leaders discussed the issue of non-discriminatory market access to be given by Pakistan.
Asked whether Modi raised the issue of the presence of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Singh said many things including terrorism were discussed. “I don’t want to speak more on this.”
“We want peaceful and friendly relations with Pakistan. However, for such relations to proceed, it is important that terror and violence is brought to an end,” she said.
Asked if India was satisfied with the discussions on the 26/11 issue, Singh said the meeting was very constructive and both sides wanted to understand the concerns of the other side
She said the acceptance of the invitation by the SAARC leaders and their presence in the swearing-in ceremony marks a new starting point in the relations.
Modi noted that it was good to see all the eight leaders graciously accepting the invitation and their presence has enriched the celebration of Indian democracy.
“This is a new beginning. This is the first time when all the SAARC leaders have been present on an occasion like this,” she said adding one leader wondered whether there should have a SAARC summit here.
Asked whether Modi will travel to Pakistan, Singh said invitations have come and they have been accepted but no dates have been finalised. “Dates have to be worked out,” she said.
When queried whether the Composite Dialogue process would be resumed, she said the Foreign Secretaries will meet to find a way forward.
Pitching for “working together” in his maiden meeting with Modi, Sharif said both will have to strive to change confrontation into cooperation.
“We agreed that our meeting in New Delhi, should be a historic opportunity for both our countries…,” Sharif said and recalled his invitation to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore in February 1999 and that he “intended to pick up the threads of the Lahore Declaration, from where it had to be left off in October 1999”.
Meanwhile, Modi today urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to fully implement the 13th amendment to Sri Lankan constitution while both leaders agreed to find a lasting solution to the fishermen’s problem.
Mr Modi, in a separate meeting, also assured Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai of India’s unwavering commitment to reconstruction and rebuilding of war-ravaged Afghanistan and thanked him for his country’s support in repulsing the terror attack on India’s Consulate General in Herat on May 23.
This and several other issues came up here today during separate meetings between Mr Modi and SAARC leaders who had come to attend Mr Modi’s swearing-in ceremony yesterday.
Mr Modi held separate meetings with all the SAARC leaders including Mr Rajapaksa, Mr Karzai, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Ministers of Bhutan and Nepal Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay and Sushil Koirala respectively.
Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh, while briefing reporters on the meetings, said Prime Minister Modi conveyed his vision of how SAARC should improve by learning from each other’s experiences.
“There is a vision of SAARC working closely together and focusing on larger issues,” the Foreign Secretary said. Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Shirin Chaudhury, who represented Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also met Mr Modi.
Besides the SAARC leaders, Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam met Mr Modi. Mauritius, although not a SAARC member, had Observer status.
Prime Minister Modi said the attack on Indian Consulate General in Herat only strengthened India’s resolve to work together with Afghanistan.
He reiterated India’s commitment to the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan and interest in seeing a prosperous, independent and sovereign Afghanistan, where the reconciliation process would be “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.”
In his meeting with Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mr Modi said India and Bhutan shared a unique and special relationship with long-standing historical and cultural linkages.
He assured Mr Tobgay of India’s unflinching support for Bhutan’s socio-economic development. The two Prime Ministers agreed to commence four new Joint Venture Hydroelectric projects with a generating capacity of 2120 MW in Bhutan.
They affirmed their mutual security interests, and agreed to closely coordinate and cooperate on issues relating to their national interest.
In his meeting with Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Mr Modi emphasised the high importance attached by India to its relations with the Maldives and pledged to work towards further enhancing bilateral cooperation.
Mr Modi said India and Bangladesh had shared recognition that their security interests were interlinked and agreed that each side would continue to be sensitive to the concerns of the other on the issue.
They said their respective territories would not be allowed to be used by any quarter for any activity inimical to the other.
It was also agreed to take measures to further strengthen investment and trade cooperation as well as cooperation in projects that would strengthen regional and sub-regional transport and connectivity to mutual advantage.
Mr Modi expressed his Government’s support to cooperation in the petroleum and natural gas sector, particularly in oil exploration as well as in the tourism and education sectors.
In his meeting with Mauritius Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Mr Modi recalled the special and unique relationship between India and Mauritius and noted that the two countries were bound together by history, common ancestry and kinship of their people.
Both leaders agreed to further strengthen the relationship, especially economic cooperation and interactions in the field of maritime security, renewable energy, and the blue-economy, including development of related infrastructure.
They also agreed to work together with all other member countries in further strengthening the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
In his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister called for expediting the process of national reconciliation in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Tamil community for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.
“Early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond would contribute to this process,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed the fishermen’s issue, India’s development assistance programme and economic and commercial cooperation.
In particular, the Prime Minister expressed interest in early launch of the 500 MW Sampur Coal Power project and greater connectivity between the two countries.
Both leaders reiterated their desire to further strengthen bilateral relations.
In his meeting with Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Mr Modi described Nepal as an old and deeply valued friend with whom India shared history, geography and ancient civilisational ties.
He said it was his earnest desire to visit Nepal this year.
He appreciated the political progress achieved in Nepal and hoped that the Constitution would be adopted in the one-year time-frame that Nepal had set for itself.
He expressed his determination to further strengthen connectivity and economic interlinkages between India and Nepal, including through projects for rail and road connectivity.
Mr Modi stressed the importance of expediting implementation of these projects and particularly projects in the hydropower and transmission sectors while both sides resolved to strengthen security cooperation even further.
In his meeting with the Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to receiving her in India at an early date.
Recalling his strong relations rooted in shared struggle, history, culture and language, Mr Modi said, “We have shared stakes in each others’ progress and prosperity and Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in SAARC.”
He appreciated the cooperation extended by Bangladesh to work together with India in all areas of mutual interest including security, power, border management, rail and road transport.
He also expressed India’s commitment to maintaining and building upon the momentum that has characterised India-Bangladesh relations in recent years.
Describing the meetings as “good and substantive”, the Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh said from India’s perspective, a strong and promising beginning had been made in India’s engagement with each of the countries in the South Asian region and with Mauritius. (Agencies)
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