NSA-level talks must proceed in right direction: NCP

According to media reports, the meeting was agreed upon by PM Modi & his Pak counterpart Sharif, when they met in Paris last week on the sidelines of COP-21

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Monday said the National Security Advisors(NSA)-level talks between India and Pakistan must proceed in the right direction in order to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

"If the talks take place, whether it takes place behind the curtain, or publicly by hugging and shaking hands, or by having pictures together, it hardly matters. What is important is the substance of the talk. Talks must proceed in the right direction for the improvement of relations between the two countries," Menon told ANI here.

"On the priority list, the highest priority would be of peace and to eliminate terrorism from the sub-continent both from India and Pakistan. I think both people of India and Pakistan are anxious to have good relations inter se and people would be happy if India and Pakistan live in peace," he added.

On Sunday, it was revealed that the NSA of India and Pakistan had held a secret meeting in Bangkok and discussed a range of issues, including peace and security, terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir.

According to media reports, the meeting was agreed upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif when they met in Paris last week on the sidelines of COP-21, and Bangkok was chosen as the most convenient location for both sides to have the discussions.

A joint statement issued later said that the foreign secretaries of both countries accompanied the NSAs. The statement said the discussions "covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, other issues including tranquility over the Line of Control."

The discussions reportedly lasted for over four hours and that all subjects having a security dimension, including Jammu and Kashmir, were raised and talked about.

"It was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement," the joint statement.

It is also being reported, but yet to be confirmed, that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is all set to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for an Afghanistan-related conference.