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Indian foreign secretary may visit Pakistan for talks

In the meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here earlier this month, the latter said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pakistan in 2016.

Islamabad: Indian foreign Secretary is expected to visit Pakistan in mid-January for talks with his Pakistani counterpart, it was announced here on Wednesday.
"Pakistan has proposed foreign secretary-level talks with India in mid-January," Prime Minister's adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday.
The talks are slated to be held in Islamabad, Sartaj said told the media here.
"Pakistan is now waiting for India's response to the proposed dates," said Sartaj.
In the meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here earlier this month, the latter said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pakistan in 2016.
Responding to a question regarding the recently announced Saudi-led alliance of 34 Islamic countries, the adviser stated that Pakistan is joining the alliance on a voluntary basis and there is nothing binding on Pakistan.
"Pakistan's possible future role will be discussed in the days to come," he said.
The adviser elaborated further that as far as counter-terrorism is concerned, Pakistan fully supports the alliance against terrorism.
While answering another question regarding the stalled peace dialogue between the Afghan Taleban and the Afghan government, Sartaj said that Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif will soon be travelling to Kabul to meet the senior civil and military leadership of the country.
"A meeting of senior officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the US would also be held soon to discuss the modalities of resuming the stalled peace dialogue," stated Sartaj.
While on the topic, Sartaj also expressed satisfaction in regards to Pakistan-US ties and said bilateral relationship has significantly improved as compared to previous years.
The adviser to the premier also touched upon Pakistan's improving ties with Russia.
"Cooperation between Pakistan and Russia has rapidly increased, and ties have improved significantly. A new chapter of Pak-Russian ties has started," said the adviser to the prime minister.
news@khaleejtimes.com
(With inputs from IANS)

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