Khurshid, Aziz to meet next month

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz will meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on the sidelines of an event in Gurgaon next month, an official said Thursday.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said India has received a request for a meeting between Aziz and Khurshid on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of foreign ministers.

"We have received a request from them for a meeting with the external affairs minister on the margins of the event," Akbaruddin said, adding: "We intend to have that meeting."

He said Khurshid would be meeting his counterparts from other countries as well at the event.

India is likely to raise concerns over the spike in infiltration from Pakistan, and the rise in instances of ceasefire violations along the international border and the Line of Control.

The 11th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting would have the proposed theme: "ASEM: Bridge to Partnership for Growth and Development". It is expected to come up with fresh ideas for reviving the Asia-Europe partnership.

The next ASEM summit is set to be held in Brussels in autumn 2014.

The ASEM currently has 51 partners, including 49 countries and two international organisations, the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat.