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Pakistan confirms visits of Afghan president, Indian FM

Xinhua, December 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistan has confirmed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the conference of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process in Islamabad this week.

The Indian Foreign Minister will reach Islamabad on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told reporters.

"Deadlock in Pakistan-India relations have eased to some extent," he said.

Sushma Swaraj will also call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Pakistani adviser said various matters with focus on resumption of composite dialogue process between the two countries will be discussed during talks with the Indian Minister.

On Nov. 30, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a UN climate summit in Paris that was seen important to push for the meetings of top officials between the two sides.

On Sunday, national security advisers of the two countries met in Bangkok and discussed peace and security issues between the two countries.

"Pursuant to the meeting of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan in Paris, the national security advisers, accompanied by the foreign secretaries, met in Bangkok," said the Foreign Office in a Sunday statement.

Issues related to peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, including tranquility along Line of Control (LoC) came under discussion during the meeting, the statement said, adding "it was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement."

In view of the earlier tension, the meeting of the NSAs was cancelled in August after India protested over Pakistan High Commissioner's meeting with Kashmiri leaders in New Delhi.

The Times of India has reported that the Indian government had earlier planned to send the Indian Minister of State for external affairs General (retd) VK Singh to attend the conference in Islamabad, however, the decision was revised after Sharif-Modi handshake in Paris.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will also be visiting Islamabad for the conference, Aziz said.

Foreign ministers of China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Iran have also confirmed their participation, according to the foreign ministry.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confirmed on Monday that he would attend the ministerial meeting of the Heat of Asia -Istanbul Process slated for Dec.8-9 in Islamabad. Enditem