The brief tete-a-tete between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif in Paris last Monday may not have been a chance meeting – it appears that the grounds for the chat were laid about a fortnight ago, when Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met here. Basit and Doval are understood to have explored the possibility of a meeting between the two prime ministers in the French capital, the venue of the climate conference, Times of India reported on Friday.
While details of the three minute meeting in Paris are not known, the leaders are understood to have discussed the possibility of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj travelling to Islamabad for the Heart of Asia conference on December 8 and 9. If Swaraj goes, she will be the first minister from India to visit Pakistan since Modi came to power.
However, a formal decision is yet to be taken on this, even as Pakistan hopes for a result-oriented dialogue in the future on all issues. Sources said that dates in the minister’s calendar have been blocked for the Heart of Asia conference, although a final decision is awaited. The Heart of Asia conference – aimed at bringing peace and prosperity in Afghanistan – will focus on ‘Countering Security Threats and Promoting Economic Connectivity.’ Swaraj would also be able to meet the Pakistani leadership, if she attends.
Although there may not be a structured dialogue, all issues could be discussed and the outcome of her visit – should it take place – will be watched keenly. The proposed visit could lead to rescheduling of the NSA-level dialogue. “We are waiting on how to move forward after the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Paris,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.