India, Pakistan to engage in comprehensive dialogue on all issues, Sushma tells Parliament
Sushma Swaraj made her statement amid ruckus created by the opposition members.
NEW DELHI (Web Desk) – While briefing the Parliament on her recent visit to Pakistan, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India and Pakistan will engage in a comprehensive dialogue on all issues including peace, security and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs protested in the house, shouting anti-government slogans, their chants drowned Swaraj’s statement on the recent developments in India-Pakistan relations.
Congress party members were protesting over the law and order situation in Punjab and demanded the dismissal of the state government.
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In the statement, which was largely inaudible due to opposition s protest, Swaraj said that it has always been the Indian Government’s effort to maintain relations with the neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.
"India, Pakistan to engage in a comprehensive dialogue on all issues including peace, security, Jammu and Kashmir," she said.
She further said that she hoped the decision to have a bilateral composite dialogue with Pakistan would produce the expected results by the leaderships and people of both the countries.
"We raised the issue of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks probe and asked Pakistan to expedite the trial process," Swaraj added.
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The Indian Foreign Minister had arrived in Islamabad on December 08, 2015 on a two-day official visit to participate in the fifth Heart of Asia Conference which was attended by high-ranking delegations from 14 participating states, 17 supporting countries and 12 International and regional organizations.
The Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process was established in 2011 at the initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey. The main objective of the Process is to foster efforts for regional cooperation and connectivity with a view to promoting long-term peace and stability as well as progress and development in Afghanistan, and the region.
During her visit, Swaraj also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia summit. After their talks, the two sides came out with a joint statement on resumption of talks, capping a series of positive developments since Narendra Modi‘s meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Paris.
Three days before the joint statement, the national security advisers of both countries met in Bangkok to resume the process which had been called off in August amid an exchange of harsh rhetoric.
