Islamabad : Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said on Tuesday that New Delhi and Islamabad have agreed to work together and find common grounds to narrow differences, but added that his talks with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar “did not mark resumption of bilateral talks”.
Addressing the media after his talks with Jaishankar, Chaudhry said, “we agreed to reduce the prevailing tension along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary that has claimed scores of lives on both sides of the border”.
He said issues ranging from “India’s interference in Balochistan”, the Samjhauta Express case, and the LoC ceasefire violations were brought to India’s attention.
Chaudhry said the overall tone of the meeting was “positive” and that both countries were ready to reflect on matters of importance to them.
Asked if the issue of 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who is said to be enjoying a “king’s life” in Pakistan’s Adiala Jail, was raised, Chaudhry said they did not discuss any individual. “We discussed issues on a broader way and we had very little time and couldn’t discuss any individual,” he said.
To a question on why both the foreign secretaries did not hold a joint presser, Aizaz responded, “Both the countries were having different concerns and we addressed them separately.”
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House here and handed over a letter sent by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
“Sharif was handed over a letter sent by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; the content of the letter cannot be revealed as of now because we did not read the letter,” said Chaudhry.