PM’s adviser says foreign secretaries of both countries will meet on Jan 14-15 in Islamabad to draw roadmap for next six months for talks on 10 identified subjects
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said the journalists and dignitaries part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s entourage on his recent surprise visit to Pakistan were not allowed outside the Lahore airport.
Responding to criticism from certain sections of media regarding violation of immigration protocol during Modi’s Lahore visit, Aziz said only the Indian PM and 11 of his personal staff members were given a 72-hour visa, and the full immigration process was followed in this regard.
Giving a policy statement in Senate on the Nawaz-Modi Jati Umra meeting, the adviser clarified that no ‘foreigner’ was allowed to go outside the airport without valid visa, contrary to what had been reported in certain sections of the media.
He said the meeting between the two prime ministers in Lahore was a “great goodwill gesture” that can pave the way for better relations between the two countries.
Aziz said it was decided that foreign secretaries of both countries would meet in Islamabad on Jan 14-15, 2016.
The adviser said the government was not hiding facts from the public, adding that the upward trajectory in Indo-Pak ties was a result of “effective diplomacy”.
The adviser said the foreign secretaries would draw up a map for the next six months for talks on 10 identified subjects.
He said the dialogue process is challenging as it involves difficult decision and important issues. He said the prime ministers of two countries have met five times and the warmth of relations created by Lahore meeting would hopefully have an impact on the formal dialogue.
He however cautioned against unrealistic expectations from the dialogue process and said there would be progress on some issues soon while it will take time for progress on others.
Sartaj Aziz said the visit of Indian PM Modi was necessarily a goodwill visit and it has been welcomed by majority of people in Pakistan and India as well as the international community.
Responding to a point raised by Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan, the PM’s adviser said no secret meeting was held between the two prime ministers in Kathmandu.
COAS’s Kabul visit:
When questioned by Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif’s recent visit to Afghanistan, Aziz said he could not comment because the visit was under the domain of the ministry of defence, not the ministry of foreign affairs.
He added that the army chief’s trip was reported widely in press, to which the Senate chief expressed displeasure, saying the “House does not need press reports”.
