Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif met with his newly elected Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House earlier today.
During the 45-minute meeting, both leaders discussed bilateral relationship and resumption of dialogues along with other matters of national interest.
The officials who accompanied the prime minister included Advisor to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, and Pakistan High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz said to Modi that the meeting was an auspicious occurrence for both the countries and, Pakistan and India both have many traditional and cultural similarities.
Nawaz stressed upon the strengthening of shared values and customs, saying that poverty and illiteracy should be eliminated from the region.
While denouncing arms race Prime Minister Nawaz expressed regret that both the countries wasted valuable time and resources in the past, adding that if the talks failed this time the history would not let the issue subside.
According to Indian media, the meeting between Sharif and Modi continued for 35 minutes and the Pakistani premier would address the media at 2pm.
Premier Nawaz also separately met with the former Indian prime minister Attal Bihari Vajpayee.
Prime Minister Sharif who is visiting India to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Modi as the 15th premier of India, had said that the inauguration of Narendra Modi as his Indian counterpart was a “great opportunity” for the two nuclear neighbours to open a new chapter in relations.
