India and Pakistan have decided to resume the composite dialogue process in what marked a significant change of Modi government's stance facilitated by what sources described as assurances from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to expedite the Mumbai attacks trial. India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attending the fifth 'Heart of Asia' conference hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad was the centre of all media attention. Swaraj called on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the conference and both the leaders discussed bilateral issues amongst others.
Extending India's hand of friendship with neighbour Pakistan, Swaraj in her address at the conference said, “It is time that we display the maturity and self-confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation. For its part, India is prepared to move our cooperation at a pace which Pakistan is comfortable with.”
In the first ministerial visit from India to Pakistan, since former external affairs minister S.M. Krishna visited the South Asian neighbour in 2012, Swaraj exerted positive tones and was warmly welcomed by Sharif. She also met with Pak National Advisor Sartaj Aziz. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted pictures of the leaders with a caption reading, “Building a cooperative relationship. EAM@SushmaSwaraj meets Foreign Affairs Adviser Mr Sartaj Aziz”.
India has so far put is foot down on Pakistan's insistence for the resumption of the composite dialogue process, as it doubted Pakistan's sincerity in addressing its concerns relating the 26/11 trial. However, since the recent dialogue between NSA A K Doval and his Pak counterpart Nasir Janjua in Bangkok, it seems as if Pakistan has finally committed itself “sincerely” to address the issue of terrorism. A source said, “Pakistan has realised and committed to us that it too has a responsibility of dealing with terror.” In a joint statement issued after the Swaraj-Aziz meeting, it said that both the leaders condemned terrorism and resolved to eliminate it. “They noted the successful talks on terrorism and security related issues in Bangkok by the two NSAs and decided that the NSAs will continue to address all issues connected to terrorism. The Indian side was assured of the steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion of the Mumbai trial.”
After her two “very good meetings” with Pakistan PM Sharif and, Sartaj Aziz, Swaraj said the official dialogue process out on hold after the Mumbai attacks, and renamed Resumed Dialogue in 2010, would be resumed under a new name - Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. In a joint address, she said the new dialogue will have all the pillars of the composite dialogue process with the possibility of adding more. She also said the foreign secretaries would take it forward with a meeting which will decide the “schedules and modalities” of this new dialogue process.
The joint statement read, “Both sides, accordingly, agreed to a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue and directed the Foreign Secretaries to work and the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the Dialogue including Peace and Security, CBMs, Jammu & Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-terrorism, Narcotics Control and Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and Religious Tourism.”
