PM Modi, Nawaz hold bilateral talk, to expedite Mumbai terror trial
India and Pakistan on Friday agreed to expedite the Mumbai terror attack trial.
In a joint briefing after an hour-long meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif here, Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries said the two sides will "discuss all outstanding issues" and agreed on expediting the Mumbai terror attack trial. The two leaders also expressed their commitment to fight terror, with Modi also agreeing to visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit in 2016. In a joint briefing after an hour-long meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif here, Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries said the two sides will "discuss all outstanding issues" and agreed on expediting the Mumbai terror attack trial. The two leaders also expressed their commitment to fight terror, with Modi also agreeing to visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit in 2016. Ufa (Russia), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif has started their one to one meeting. This has been one of the much-anticipated development during which the Indian leader is expected to voice concerns over terrorism and other cross-border activities. Setting the tone for tomorrow's formal meeting, Modi and Sharif tonight exchanged pleasantries and chatted briefly when they came face-to-face at a dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for leaders of five BRICS countries and 10 SCO nations here. The two leaders, who are here to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, are expected to discuss the status of the bilateral ties and the future direction. "It is confirmed. PM @narendramodi and PM Nawaz Sharif will have a bilateral meeting in Ufa tomorrow at 9.15 am (9.45 am IST) on sidelines of SCO Summit," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The confirmation came hours after Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that the "possibilities are always there" that the two leaders could meet. Officials said the two leaders would be reviewing the relationship and all issues could be on the table. "Terrorism for India is a major concern," an official said, indicating that the issue could be taken up by Modi at tomorrow's meeting. In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said bilateral issues of importance will be discussed in the Modi-Sharif meeting. "India has proposed a meeting and Pakistan has positively responded to it," the spokesman said.
