Talks held on peace and security issues with Indian officials

Islamabad - The meeting comes in wake of reports that India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to visit Pakistan next week.

Foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India, aided by their respective national security advisers, discussed in Bangkok on Sunday 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 today," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
Discussions between officials of the two countries are said to be held in a candid, cordial and constructive atmosphere.
"They were guided by the vision of the two leaders for a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia," the Foreign Office statement said.
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".
The meeting comes in wake of reports that India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to visit Pakistan next week for a regional conference on Afghanistan.
Last month, Pakistan extended an invitation to the top Indian diplomat for a ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process to be held in Islamabad on December 8 and 9.
Although there is no official confirmation as to who will represent India at the conference, officials at Pakistan's Foreign Office and an Indian diplomat told The Express Tribune that Swaraj will most likely attend the conference following this week's unscheduled meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India in Paris.
On November 30, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approached Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and both held a brief meeting on the sidelines of a UN climate summit in the French capital.
Both the leaders appeared to be in a friendly mood and there seemed to be great warmth during their interaction.
The two leaders parted with a warm handshake," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's House said.
Images showed the two leaders seated casually on a sofa without diplomatic subtleties and talking to each other candidly. However, Nawaz Sharif would not say what exactly was discussed in the meeting. - news@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan