India, Pakistan to Commence 'Comprehensive' Bilateral Dialogue

The External Affairs Minister acknowledged that the National Security Advisers of both the countries were able to break the ice in Bangkok.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hands with Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz before a meeting in Islamabad. |PTI

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan on Wednesday announced the commencement of a “comprehensive” bilateral dialogue.

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Addressing a joint press conference with Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Affairs Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said, “We have decided to start a fresh and call the commencement of dialogue as comprehensive bilateral dialogue. It was earlier known as ‘composite’ dialogue, which later came to be known as ‘resumed’ dialogue.”

Elaborating upon the decision of comprehensive bilateral dialogue, she said: “All pillars, which were present in composite and resumed dialogues, will be there in the comprehensive bilateral dialogue, besides some other issues can also be added to it.”

“To move the comprehensive bilateral dialogue forward, we have asked the Foreign Secretaries of both the countries to chalk out schedules and modalities,” said Swaraj.

The External Affairs Minister acknowledged that the National Security Advisers of both the countries were able to break the ice in Bangkok, which resulted in her visit to Islamabad and the decision to start the comprehensive bilateral dialogue.