When Pak PM said he wants to take negotiations forward, Modi replied: "I'll get back to you on this."
When prime minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif sat down for lunch at the Dhulikhel retreat in the presence of other regional heads of government during the SAARC Summit on Thursday, they spoke mostly about the past and didn't make much headway about how to carry on with their interaction in the future.
Zee Media has exclusive information about what the two leaders spoke.
Modi began by thanking Sharif for attending his oath ceremony in New Delhi on May 26. Sensing an opportunity to air his views on the events that followed the oath, Sharif replied: "I came to Delhi with great hope. I understand that our people have great expectations of us. Our meeting in Delhi was very cordial and I am fully interested in taking those talks forward. But then, cross-border firing and the cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks by you made things look down. I was stunned when you cancelled the talks at a very short notice. I'm very keen on resuming the stalled process." To this, Modi replied: "I will get back to you on this." They then shook hands and got pictures clicked.
Their handshake lasted 40 seconds. Their smiles were bright and their faces glowed. Modi also appeared to make a jovial remark to Sharif towards the end of their brief interaction at the retreat.
Only a day before, on the first day of the summit, both leaders appeared to have cold-shouldered each another. Visuals of Sharif walking towards the dais from behind Modi's chair, who appeared busy reading, sent out a very strong message about the cold vibes between the two, that left little to imagination. However, the warm handshake and smiles the next day depict a visible thaw between them.
This lunch meeting didn't make for a structured, formal interaction between the two leaders, as the SAARC charter excludes bilateral and contentious issues from its ambit. However, it succeeded in providing a common meeting ground for the PMs of India and Pakistan who had otherwise not proceeded with the bilateral peace process since their meeting in May in New Delhi.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}