Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was the most consequential event of his visit to Central Asia, BRICS and the SCO. It was believed to have ended with a satisfactory note as Modi accepted an invitation to visit Islamabad in 2016 for a SAARC summit, a year after India called off talks with Pakistan.
Narendra Modi raised India's concerns on terror and the release of Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. In a joint statement released after the meeting that proceeded for more than an hour, foreign secretaries S. Jaishankar and Aizaz Chowdhury announced a five-pronged statement of progress, that included meetings between National Security Advisers Ajit Doval and Sartaj Aizaz and, discussing ways and means to expedite Mumbai 26/11 trial.
The statement condemned terrorism in all forms and said the NSA's of the countries would discuss all outstanding issues in New Delhi soon. Both the sides also said meetings will be held between the heads of India's Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers, followed by discussions between the director generals of military operations from both countries. A decision was announced to release Indian and Pakistani fishermen in custody, along with their boats, in 15 days. Both the countries agreed to establish a “mechanism for facilitating religions tourism.”
Primarily discussed was Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi's release and ways to expedite trial in Mumbai attack case. The joint statement said both sides would “cooperate with each other to eliminate this menace [terrorism] from South Asia”, and BJP spokesperson called the talks a “breakthrough”. Modi and India were seemingly satisfied from the outcome although, Sharif came under strong criticism from his country for avoiding the Kashmir issue and India's interference in Baluchistan.
However, India's satisfaction from the bilateral talks was short-lived and went the way it came as barely three days after the understanding reached by both the prime ministers, Pakistan's foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz said the 26/11 probe could only proceed after India provided “more evidence”. In a press conference in Islamabad, Aziz said, “On Mumbai trial case, our view has been, and was so in this meeting as well, that we need more evidence and information to conclude the trial. The reference to 'additional information' is recognition of the need that more information is needed to expedite the trial.”
New Delhi has maintained that it has provided sufficient information and evidence to put the Lakhvi issue to rest by nailing him in the attack in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives. While the new statements did not go down well with the Indian government, it sure must have mellowed down the strong apprehensions that were raised in Pakistan at the mere mention of giving yields to India.
