Sushma Swaraj meets Sartaj Aziz

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday held a meeting with Pakistani prime minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on the margins of the Heart of Asia Conference here.

"Building a cooperative relationship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Pakistan's Forteign Affairs Adviser Mr Sartaj Aziz," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.

The meeting was held after the Indian minister called on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here.

According to Swarup, during the meeting with Sharif, Sushma Swaraj conveyed "India's commitment to good neighbourly relations".

Earlier on Wednesday, Sushma Swaraj extended India's hand of friendship to Pakistan at the Heart of Asia Conference.

"It is time that we display the maturity and self-confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation," she said in her address at the conference.

"For its part, India is prepared to move our cooperation at a pace which Pakistan is comfortable with," she added.

The Heart of Asia Conference engages "heart of Asia" countries in sincere and result-oriented cooperation for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Later, the Indian minister attended a lunch hosted by Sharif for delegates to the Heart of Asia Conference.

This is the first ministerial visit from India to Pakistan since then external affairs minister S.M. Krishna visited the South Asian neighbour in 2012.