Summary The two top diplomats will strive to put the bilateral dialogue process back on track.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry is expected to meet Indian counterpart Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Summit in New Delhi today (Tuesday).
The two top diplomats will strive to put the bilateral dialogue process back on track that got stalled following the attack on India’s Pathankot air base on January 2.
The attack derailed the dialogue process which got a kick-start with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad last October for a Heart of Asia ministerial meeting jointly hosted by Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Both the sides agreed on resumption of the bilateral dialogue, naming it Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue.
Pakistan wants to resolve all outstanding issues with India, including Kashmir, through talks, foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Tuesday ahead of his arrival in New Delhi.
He was quoted by Radio Pakistan as saying that “it is very much possible that both countries talk to each other and try to settle the issues on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process meeting in New Delhi”.
HEART OF ASIA
The Heart of Asia Istanbul Process senior officials meeting will begin at Hyderabad House at 2:30 pm (PST) today. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry will lead Pakistan delegation to this meeting.
Pakistan has continued to play an active role in the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process, which was established in 2011 as a platform to discuss regional issues including security, economic cooperation and connectivity among Afghanistan, its neighbours and regional countries with a view to promote lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Pakistan hosted the fifth Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Islamabad on 9 December 2015. The Conference adopted a forward looking Islamabad Declaration entitled "Emphasizing Enhanced Cooperation for Countering Security Threats and Promoting Regional Connectivity".
"Pakistan looks forward to active participation in the forthcoming Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia process reflecting our commitment to efforts for promoting long term peace and stability in Afghanistan," the Foreign Office stated.
Pakistan delegation will also hold bilateral meetings with other leading delegations attending the meeting.
