Meeting with Modi: Sharif calls for removing misgivings

NEW DELHI: The meeting between Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House of Delhi concluded in 45 minutes, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, special assistant Tariq Fatemi and high commissioner Abdul Basit assisted Nawaz Sharif in the meeting.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Nawaz Sharif and after a handshake the two leaders went for talks in the conference room of Hyderabad House.

According to reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said to Modi that Pakistan and India both have many traditional and cultural similarities. He called the occasion a golden opportunity to remove bilateral apprehensions and misgivings.

Nawaz stressed upon the strengthening of shared values and customs, saying that poverty and illiteracy should be eliminated from the region.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed regret that both the countries wasted valuable time and resources in the past, adding that if the talks failed this time the history would not let the issue subside.

According to sources, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged for stopping terrorist attacks.

He also expressed his dissatisfaction over the trial against perpetrators of Mumbai attack and urged for legal action against the plotters of the attack, sources said.

Nawaz Sharif also separately called on the former Indian prime minister Attal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sharif also met with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and discussed bilateral ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is visiting India to attend the oath-taking ceremony of India's new prime minister Narendra Modi, had earlier said that the inauguration of Narendra Modi as his Indian counterpart was a “great opportunity” for the two neighbours to open a new chapter in relations.