Pakistan and India friends again for benefits

• Sharif and Modi shake hands in Ufa, break ice between rival neighbouring countries, vow to cooperate for eliminating terrorism from South Asia
• Premiers agree on expediting Mumbai case trial, approve fishermen’s release in 15 days, want early meetings of DGs of BSF, Pakistan Rangers, DGMOs
• Indian premier to visit Pakistan in 2016 for SAARC summit while security advisers of both nations will meet in Delhi

In a breakthrough, Pakistan and India Friday decided to revive the stalled dialogue process between the countries as prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi agreed to cooperate for eliminating terrorism from South Asia.

Sharif and Modi, in their first bilateral talks in over a year, met for nearly one hour in Ufa on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and discussed a gamut of issues between the two countries. The two leaders warmly shook hands and posed for the shutterbugs before settling down for the talks.

Significantly, foreign secretaries S Jaishankar and Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry held a joint press meet where they read out a joint statement on the outcome of the much-anticipated meeting between the two leaders.

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz will meet in New Delhi to discuss all issues connected to terrorism, a statement issued after the meeting said.

“Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial including additional information like providing voice samples,” the statement said.

Moreover, Modi accepted Sharif’s invitation to visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit next year. “They agreed that India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development. To do so, they are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues,” the statement added.

Both sides also agreed to hold early meetings of directors general of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers followed by that of directors general of military operations (DGMOs).

Furthermore, the two sides decided to release fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days.

A mechanism for facilitating religious tourism will also be worked out, as per the five-point “steps” to be taken by the two sides, the statement said.

According to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the two prime ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They agreed to cooperate for eliminating this menace from South Asia. He said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere wherein both the sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional issues.

In a brief chat with reporters, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over his meeting with the Indian prime minister. He said the meeting was held in a cordial environment.

In the meanwhile, a Foreign Office spokesman told newsmen in Islamabad that the meeting between the two leaders was a “positive development”. He expressed hope that it would have a positive impact on bilateral relations between the two countries. He said the international community was also interested in improvement of relations between Pakistan and India because it would benefit not only the peoples of the two countries but also the entire region.