Nepal played key role in Modi-Sharif handshake

"Although we have created an atmosphere for meeting of the two leaders, it is the two leaders themselves who took initiative for the handshake," Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, who was also present on the occasion, said.
  
"SAARC is for creating a goodwill and understanding among all the member countries and the regional grouping could not move forward without the cooperation among them," Pandey said.
  
"We could not have forced them to shake hands," said the Foreign Minister, adding that the brief meeting between Modi and Sharif could not have taken place if the two leaders were not willing to do so.
  
Host country Nepal organised a retreat for the SAARC leaders in Dhulikhel, the picturesque resort city situated in the east of Kathmandu on the final day of the Summit.
  
The retreat organised by Nepal created an environment for the leaders of the two countries to come together.
  
On a question about whether he played any role for the handshake Prime Minister Koirala said, "SAARC will move forward in the path of democracy and development, and it will create an atmosphere of understanding and trust among all the member states."

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India should not have cancelled talks: Nawaz Sharif

"We had been talking to the Kashmiri leaders in the past whenever Pakistan-India talks are held. This is nothing new as we have to seek the opinion of the Kashmiri leaders on an issue that concerns them the most," Sharif told media on board his aircraft while returning home from the 18th SAARC Summit on Thursday.
  
Consultations held by Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi with Kashmiri separatists led to the cancellation by India of Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh's visit to Islamabad in September.

Since then both countries have maintained that they are willing to engage in a meaningful dialogue provided the other side takes the initiative.

Sharif said that India should not have cancelled the Foreign Secretary-level talks as was agreed upon during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his swearing in at New Delhi, media reported.

He said Pakistan wishes to pursue the dialogue process from a position of dignity, honour and self-respect. "We believe in it and will maintain it at all costs," he said.
  
Sharif said Pakistan desires a "meaningful" dialogue to resolve all issues including the Kashmir dispute. His remarks come after frosty Indo-Pak ties briefly gave way to some warmth on Thursday when a smiling Prime Minister Modi and Sharif shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, but India cautioned against reading too much into such "courtesies".
  
Moments before the SAARC Summit concluded after two days of deliberations in Kathmandu, Modi and Sharif shook hands and exchanged a few sentences to loud applause of other leaders and their delegations which were witness to the cold vibes between the two Prime Ministers at the opening session when they ignored each other.
  
Sharif said he twice shook hands with his Indian counterpart and exchanged pleasantries at the SAARC Summit. He said Pakistan has always desired a meaningful dialogue with India with  sincerity and wants it to be reciprocated from the other side.
  
When asked how the ice between the two leaders was broken, Sharif said when he arrived at the retreat, Prime Minister Modi along with other leaders was already there.
  
He met others and also shook hands with Prime Minister Modi. Sharif also categorically stated that if India wants to restore ties, the Kashmir issue must be discussed and "that too seriously with full sincerity".

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Modi, Sharif shake hands after cold vibes at SAARC summit

Modi put his hand on Sharif's arm as the two leaders looked at cameras with a long handshake even as they exchanged a few sentences. Loud applause greeted this apparent thaw which was in contrast to the two leaders ignoring each other on Wednesday.

"The two leaders exchanged pleasantries when they met for the first time after arriving here," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

The leaders gathered at Dhulikhel in Kavre district, 30 km east of the Nepalese capital, for the traditional SAARC retreat on the concluding day of the two-day summit.   

At the retreat, they held private, unofficial talks in a relaxed and more informal atmosphere.

Sources said all the leaders met in informal settings and talked about various regional issues.

There was no discussion on bilateral issues, they said.
  
The SAARC Foreign Ministers, including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, were also present at the retreat.

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Nawaz Sharif, Narendra Modi meeting in Nepal?

Citing an official, the Express Tribune reported that the two premiers may interact on the sidelines of the Summit.

"The two prime ministers will come face-to-face at the retreat ceremony in Kathmandu," the official said.

As part of a tradition, the heads of states and governments attending the SAARC Summit are taken for a retreat after the inauguration of the conference in order to create a conducive environment for bilateral meetings.

Sharif will meet leaders of SAARC countries on the sidelines to discuss issues of bilateral and regional interest, the Foreign Office said yesterday.

However, it did not say whether Nawaz’s bilateral engagements also included a meeting with Modi.

When contacted, a senior foreign ministry official said that Pakistan had not yet received any request for such a meeting from the Indian side.

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