This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Indo-Pak Foreign Secys To Meet In Islamabad To Avoid Kashmiri Separatists

Indo-Pak Foreign Secys To Meet In Islamabad To Avoid Kashmiri Separatists
LAHORE, PAKISTAN - DECEMBER 25: Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif (L) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan on December 25, 2015. (Photo by Indian Press Information office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
LAHORE, PAKISTAN - DECEMBER 25: Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif (L) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan on December 25, 2015. (Photo by Indian Press Information office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- While the how and why of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore on Christmas Day is still being worked out, its first concrete outcome is that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will meet his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary on January 15 in Islamabad.

They are expected to set a schedule for the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, which the two neighbours agreed to when Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan, earlier this month. Both sides have committed to talking about all outstanding issues.

Although it is Pakistan's turn to send its diplomats to India, New Delhi has settled for Islamabad so that Chaudhary can avoid meeting leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, The Times of India reported on Sunday.

Since Pakistan recognises Kashmiri separatists as true representatives of the conflict-ridden region, Chaudhary has no choice but to meet them if he comes to India. Meeting in Islamabad is a way around it.

India has called off talks twice over Pakistan's interaction with Hurriyat leaders since the Modi government came to power in May 2014, and neither side wants to take any chances with their first meeting of 2016, which will set the tone for the talks to advance through the year.

Not only with another cancellation jeopardise the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, it will also be hugely embarrassing for Modi and his government, especially after his grand gesture.

While his spontaneous visit to Lahore has generally gone down well on both sides of the border, the Congress Party dismissed it as a "joke," a stunt to grab headlines, and self promotion over national interest.

Contact HuffPost India

Also on HuffPost:

Russell's Viper

India's 10 Deadliest Snakes

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.