With no confirmation yet of any substantive bilateral dialogue between the two countries on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia (HOA) conference next week in Amritsar, Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, will likely have a curtailed visit to India, official sources said here.
The conference on Afghanistan is scheduled for December 3-4. Official sources said that, as of now,Pakistan has confirmed that Aziz will arrive in Amritsar only on December 4, unlike delegates from other countries who will land a day earlier, and depart for Pakistan the same evening.
Aziz will not be present at the dinner which will be hosted by India on December 3. He will be accompanied by Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain and senior MoFA official Mansoor Khan who handles Afghanistan.
“There can be a few handshakes and some informal talk as a matter of courtesy may be but there is no proposal for any real bilateral dialogue,” said a source.
Foreign ministers of 14 countries are expected to participate in the conference.
While Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who is expected to soon undergo a kidney transplant, will not be attending the HOA conference, India is likely to be represented by MoS for external affairs M J Akbar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event on December 4. Official sources said no side had proposed that Aziz calls on Modi while in Amritsar.
Read more: Talks with India only if Kashmir is on agenda: Sartaj Aziz
