Just a few days after India indicated that an early meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan is unlikely, Pakistan said that the two sides are in touch for a meeting between them.
The Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit, when asked about a meeting between the foreign secretaries, told reporters on Friday. “We are in touch with each other and things are moving forward.”
Earlier in July, the Pakistan foreign ministry to had indicated that the foreign secretaries would be meeting soon. This had evoked a tepid response from the external affairs ministry here amid indications that such a meeting is unlikely to happen at an early date.
The Pakistan envoy also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be welcomed in Pakistan whenever he visits the country. He also hoped that the high-level visit would take place.
The Pakistani envoy termed as “good beginning” the meeting between Mr Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in May here and said both of them struck a chord. Mr Sharif had come here to participate in Mr Modi’s oath taking ceremony as Prime Minister.
Mr Modi’s predecessor, Manmohan Singh did not make a visit to Pakistan during his 10-year long tenure as PM.