Khurshid to discuss ceasefire violations with Sartaj Aziz on ASEM sidelines

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will be meeting Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Foreign Affairs Adviser on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' meet next week here, where he would discuss the issue of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that for India and Pakistan to engage in talks, there should be peace and tranquility on the LoC.

"There is a commitment to have that meeting. It will take up the outcome of the last meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It is important as a precondition that there should be peace and tranquility on the LoC for India and Pakistan to engage," he told media here today.

Syed Akbaruddin said that during his meeting with Sartaj Aziz, the situation along the LOC since the two prime ministers last met, is likely to be discussed as it would help decide where to go forward based on their assessment of the situation during the period that has elapsed since the discussion between the two prime ministers.

In the September 29 talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, both sides had agreed that improving the situation on the LoC is the 'precondition' to 'forward movement' in the India-Pakistan relationship.

Sartaj Aziz would be travelling to India to attend ASEM Foreign Ministers meet on on November 11 and November 12.

This is the first time India is hosting an ASEM Foreign Ministers meeting, and it would be inaugurated by Vice President Hamid Ansari, and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid would chair the meeting.