Omar optimistic about Sushma's proposed visit to Pak

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed hope that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Pakistan would revive the stalled dialogue process between the two neighbouring nations and improve the present situation in the valley.

"We would expect that the bilateral dialogue process gets revived after this visit of the Foreign Minister and we expect that her visit improves the situation in valley," Omar told reporters here.

"Especially when there is an atmosphere of tension prevailing between both the nations, we hope that the ceasefire would be obeyed, and the dialogue process gets started again," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier met his Pakistani counterpart briefly in Paris on November 30. Both leaders warmly held hands before sitting down for a chat amidst frosty ties between the two neighbouring nations.

The duo had earlier met in Russian city of Ufa and agreed that their National Security Advisors would meet.

Pakistan has formally invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to attend the 'Heart of Asia' Conference to be held in Islamabad on December 8. However, there is no official confirmation from the India side in this regard.