Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz denied rumours of a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a United Nation (UN) General Assembly meeting in New York.
Replying to a question in the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting Wednesday, he said that there is no “back channel diplomacy” with India going on at this time.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Muhmmad Adeel in which core foreign policy areas were discussed.
Nafees Zakriya from the Foreign Affairs Ministry briefed the committee about the situation on the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan’s relations with India in wake of the new Indian government were also discussed. The senators were informed that Pakistan remains committed to a meaningful dialogue process with its neighbour despite cancellation of foreign secretary–level talks by India. In light of the present floods, provisions of Indus Water Treaty were also discussed.
Zaheer Pervaiz briefed senators about Pak-Afghan relations. Aziz said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan need to agree that neither will allow the use of its territory against the other.
The adviser said that he had discussed the issue of official and diplomatic passports with UAE and the problem would be resolved soon. He also said that a draft agreement is in process regarding shifting of prisoners in Pakistani and Saudi Arabian jails.