ISLAMABAD: India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to visit Islamabad for attending the Heart of Asia ministerial meeting next week.

The ministerial meeting is being held in Islamabad on Dec 9, which is being attended by about 27 countries. India is part of the process, which promotes the vision of regional cooperation and confidence-building with a focus on Afghanistan.

Although Foreign Office denied that it had any information about the expected participation, a senior Pakistani official said that she was “highly likely” to attend the meeting.

Also read: Sharif meets Modi: ‘exchange of courtesies’ or ‘good talks’?

Pakistan, which is co-hosting the process with Afghanistan, had extended the invitation to the Indian foreign minister last month.

Ms Swaraj’s visit would follow a brief meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Climate Change Summit in Paris on Monday.

Mr Sharif had after the meeting told journalists: “Talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi were good. Doors of dialogue should open.”

Both Pakistani and Indian officials had described the Paris meeting as a chance interaction.

But the senior official said the meeting had been planned and in this regard Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit had specially met Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Delhi almost a fortnight ago.

Ms Swaraj would be the highest ranking Indian official to visit Pakistan since the BJP came to power last year. The Indian foreign secretary had visited Pakistan in March this year as part of what was described as Saarc yatra.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2015

Opinion

Editorial

Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

To drag a critical ally like Saudi Arabia into unfounded conspiracies is detrimental to Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...