Modi, Sartaj come face-to-face at Amritsar dinner

Indian premier inquires about well-being of Nawaz; Sartaj says PM

also expressed good wishes for Modi

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shook hands with Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at a dinner in Amritsar and inquired after the well-being of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from him.

Sartaj Aziz said Nawaz Sharif is well and he has also expressed good wishes for him.Sartaj Aziz on Saturday arrived in Amritsar, India, to attend a two-day key meet of the Heart of Asia. Upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and joint secretary of Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Sartaj Aziz also sent a bouquet to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her residence extending his sincere good wishes for her full and speedy recovery.

The adviser will represent Pakistan in the conference with focus on regional cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours and the efforts for durable peace in the war-ravaged country.

In the evening, Sartaj Aziz attended the dinner hosted for the visiting dignitaries at a heritage village named ‘Sadda Pind’ or our village located on the outskirts of Amritsar.

The Indian prime minister and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also attended the dinner hosted by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The Indian prime minister and Afghan president will jointly inaugurate the conference today (Sunday) being attended by around 40 foreign ministers and dignitaries of 14 participating countries.

The Heart of Asia initiative was launched in 2011 with the objective to boost economic and security cooperation. Its members include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.

The Heart of Asia initiative has the support of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Italy Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Britain and the United States.

The conference has been taking place at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over Kashmir and continuing skirmishes at the border.

Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan, despite India's negativity in scuttling the Saarc Summit, would attend the Heart of Asia Conference due to its commitment to Afghanistan's peace and stability.

He added that Pakistan would not accept any pre-conditions for holding a dialogue with India.

Zakaria said, "The current phase of indigenous self-determination movement in the Indian Held Kashmir had entered into the fifth month and is continuing in the face of worst violations of human rights of defenceless Kashmiris at the hands of Indian occupation forces."