India, Pak foreign ministers to meet in New York next week 

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that Sushma Swaraj will hold a meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York next week. 

The development was first reported by The Tribune. The two leaders will represent their countries at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and also participate in the SAARC council of ministers meeting to be held on September 27 along the sidelines. “I can confirm that on the request of Pakistani side, a meeting between External Affairs Minister and Pak Foreign minister will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA at a mutually convenient date and time,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

While the permanent missions of India and Pakistan to UN in New York are finalising schedule and agenda of talks, sources suggest the ministers could hold talks a day prior to the SAARC meeting.

However, the Indian government insists that this is not start of a structured dialogue and neither is there any change in its stated position that “talks on terror can happen, but talks and terror cannot go together”. 

“I must distinguish between a meeting and a dialogue. This should not be confused with resumption of any dialogue. This is a meeting based on a request which we have got from the Pakistani side. This does not indicate any change in policy as far as our stand on terrorism and cross border terrorism is concerned,” underlined Raveesh Kumar. 

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