Modi-Sharif meeting breakthrough in India-Pakistan ties

A day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Russia and accepted an invitation to visit Islamabad next year, experts Saturday hailed the move as a " breakthrough" in the diplomatic relations between the two arch- rivals.

"Friday's meeting was the first between the prime ministers of the two countries since Sharif attended Modi's oath taking ceremony in May 2014. This is a diplomatic breakthrough given that India canceled bilateral talks with Pakistan in August last year after accusing it of interfering in its internal affairs," said Delhi-based expert Prof. Ajay Singh.

"Last September, in his first speech at the United Nations, Modi had said he wanted peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it must create an appropriate atmosphere. And, the prime ministers' meeting is an indication that things may be changing in the region, given both hit by terrorism."

In fact, in a joint statement issued by both countries after Modi and Sharif's meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in the Russian city of Ufa, they agreed that India and Pakistan have a collective responsibility to ensure peace and promote development.

Both leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to cooperate with each other to eliminate this menace from South Asia as well as agreed on a meeting in the Indian capital between the two national security advisors to discuss all issues connected to terrorism.

"Both countries are victims of terrorism and their agreement to talk on the issue is a ground-breaking initiative. Moreover, both sides have agreed to expedite the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case trial, in a big step towards good diplomacy which is the need of the hour for a stable South Asia," said Ravi Swamy, an expert on international affairs.

After the Mumbai massacre's suspected mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was released on bail from a Pakistani jail in April, India described the move as "unfortunate and disappointing", given over 170 people died in the attacks allegedly carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists.

"India has agreed to hand over more evidence against the Mumbai attackers to Pakistan and Islamabad has decided to act in the case. These show that both are now serious about peace and stability in the region, despite apparent opposition from Pakistani Army about better bilateral relations," said Prof. Singh.

But what is a big step towards a stable South Asia is the Indian prime minister's acceptance of Sharif's invitation to visit Pakistan for the SAARC Summit in 2016, say the experts.

"Modi's acceptance of Sharif's invitation shows he is committed to establishing cordial relations with Pakistan, despite several odds. Since coming to power, the Indian prime minister tried to reach out to Pakistan, and by accepting the invitation, he has again showed that he is not averse to good bilateral relations with Pakistan, a neighbor it can't change," said expert S.K. Gupta.

"This will be Modi's first visit to Pakistan after he took power last year, and the second by an Indian prime minister belonging to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, given Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the neighboring nation in the late 1990s."

India and Pakistan have fought at least three major wars in the past 60 years over the disputed territory of Kashmir, claimed by both countries.