External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to make a statement in Parliament on Thursday on the proposed ”composite dialogue” between India and Pakistan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the neighbouring nation for SAARC in 2016.
Sushma will brief the parliament how Modi government is progressing to resume “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue” on all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir to bring peace in the entire region.Foreign secretaries of both the countries will draw up the schedule of the talks.
“The two nations have decided to resume talks… It will be a new comprehensive bilateral dialogue,” announced Swaraj, with Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz.
The discussions will involve “peace and security, CBMs, Jammu & Kashmir, Siachen… Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-Terrorism.. Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and religious tourism,” said a joint statement.
“The Indian side was assured of the steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion of the Mumbai trial,” the joint statement read.
Sushma and Aziz addressed a joint press conference : “Both sides have decided to begin composite dialogue. It will have all the pillars of the composite dialogue and some other aspects. The foreign secretaries of both sides are to draw up the schedule and at what level the talks are to be held,” Sushma said.
Both sides agreed to a “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue and directed their foreign secretaries to work out the modalities and the schedule of the meetings under the Dialogue, including Peace and Security, CBMs, 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.
wefornews bureau