Imran Khan writes to PM Modi, seeks Swaraj-Qureshi meet in New York

In a bid to start a new chapter in India-Pakistan relationship, Imran Khan has reached out to PM Narendra Modi. According to reports, Pakistan PM Imran Khan wants talk to resume between the two neighbours, and as first step, he is hoping that the foreign ministers of both countries can meet at the sidelines of United Nation General Assembly in New York in this month end. 

The last time both countries had a substantive dialogue was way back in December 2015, when Sushma Swaraj had gone to Pakistan to attend the Heart of Asia conference. Then onwards, the relationship has been in downhill after Pak sponsored terrorists attacked army base in Pathankot. India has reiterated that till Pakistan supports terrorist operating from their country, no constructive dialogue can take place. In the letter, Imran Khan has said that all sticky issues including Kashmir can be resolved through dialogue. 

Despite his anti-India rhetoric during the campaign, Imran Khan has made positive noise about trying to bettter relationship after taking over as PM. His Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has also called for betterment of ties and resumption of dialogue. Narendra Modi in his communication had called for 'constructive and meaningful' exchange with Pakistan and Imran Khan wants the foreign minister meet as a stepping stone towards it. 

The SAARC Foreign Ministers are slated to meet at the sidelines of UNGA. So Qureshi and Swaraj will be definitely crossing path there, even though it is still uncertain if India will agree to talks with Pakistan. Many believe that Modi government won't resume talks with Pakistan with general elections merely a few months to go. 

Pakistan on Wednesday said it is "engaged" with India to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this month. Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said that no decision has been taken on the issue so far.

"We are engaged in the matter," he said when asked about reports that Qureshi and Swaraj may hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA and whether both sides have formally approached each other. Swaraj will lead the Indian delegation to the UNGA while Qureshi is expected to head the Pakistani side. The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place. The ties between the two countries had strained after Pakistan-based terror groups launched attacks in India in 2016.

With PTI inputs