World / Asia-Pacific

Indian, Pakistani PMs meet

(Xinhua) Updated: 2014-05-27 16:16

Indian, Pakistani PMs meet

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif before the start of their bilateral meeting in New Delhi May 27, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif had a 50-minute meeting here Tuesday, one day after Modi was sworn in as head of the Indian government.

Local media reports said Modi raised the issue of terrorism and 2008 Mumbai attacks during the talks, which were previously assumed to be focused on economy and trade.

Before Sharif, Modi met Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other South Asian leaders. But, all eyes were on his talks with the Pakistani prime minister.

Modi reportedly told Sharif that "terror must stop" before the two countries can hold comprehensive talks on improving relations, said local TV channel Times Now.

The Indian PM also reportedly said that Pakistan should bring to justice the people who perpetuated the Nov. 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 10 terrorists from Pakistan killed over 160.

India has accused Pakistan of violating ceasefire at the Line-of-Control in Kashmir and infiltrating militants into Indian-controlled Kashmir. India also held Pakistan responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan has denied the Indian allegations on ceasefire violation and has said it was seriously pursuing with justice the people who might be involved in the Mumbai attacks.

Sharif had Monday attended Modi's inauguration at the presidential palace.

In a brief meeting with the media before his departure for home, Sharif said, "I intend to pick up the threads of the Lahore peace declaration of 1999, when former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan."

On his meeting with Modi, Sharif said he had a "very good and constructive meeting" with Modi Tuesday. "It was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere."

The Pakistan PM said talks were the only way to solve the dispute between the two countries and that he was bringing a message of peace to India.

It was the first by the prime minister of one country to witness the oath taking ceremony of his counterpart in another since India and Pakistan won independence from Britain in 1947.

"I am here to turn a new page in India-Pakistan relations," Sharif had said in a newspaper interview, after arriving in the Indian capital.

Sharif is also scheduled to meet with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee before flying back to Pakistan aboard a Pakistan Air Force plane.

Indian, Pakistani PMs meet
Indian, Pakistani PMs meet
Modi sworn in as new Indian PM  Modi to be sworn in as Indian prime minister 

 
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