Pakistan envoy to India called for consultations on foreign secretary-level talks

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has been called to Islamabad for consultations on finalising a date for the Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries. Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam confirmed that Basit's summon to Islamabad for "routine consultations".

Dawn reported on its website that he has been called for finalising the date and a range of issues for the Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries. The decision for talks between Foreign Secretaries of the two nations was taken in the first formal meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and his counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

The last round of talks was held in New Delhi between Pakistan's former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar and her then Indian counterpart SM Krishna in 2011.

To get properly briefed on issues that may come up during the secretary-level talks, Basit met Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz and Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi. After returning to India, Basit will meet Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh to share a possible date decided by Islamabad for the talks as well as the issues to be taken up during the talks.

It was also learnt that both foreign secretaries may possibly meet in September before the UN General Assembly session where both prime ministers are expected to meet again, the report said.