Sartaj Aziz, Khurshid to meet in Bishkek tomorrow

Meeting would focus on "overall bilateral relations"

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's top foreign policy aide Sartaj Aziz will meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on the margins of a SCO meeting in Bishkek on Friday to discuss bilateral relations.

Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security, and Khurshid are expected to try to schedule a meeting between the premiers of the two countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry told a weekly news briefing here on Thursday that Aziz would meet Khurshid in Bishkek tomorrow on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting.

Asked about the agenda of the meeting, Chaudhry said it would focus on "overall bilateral relations".

Sources said Aziz and Khurshid would discuss the proposed meeting of the Prime Ministers in New York. They are also expected to discuss tensions along the Line of Control and ways to restore bilateral dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.

Indian officials said Khurshid would have informal discussions with Aziz on the sidelines of the SCO meet. Joint Secretary Ajay Bisaria told Indian reporters accompanying Khurshid that the minister would hold a series of meetings with world leaders, including Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev and Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev.

India will also seek a larger role in the SCO given the evolving security situation in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and energy cooperation.