India and Pakistan's backchannel talks continue at the security establishment level, something that has been on since November/December 2020. Both sides have been meeting in a third country, sometimes in Europe and sometimes in West Asia. Last year also saw such engagement, something that has been seen as a line of communication between the two sides.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, it is learnt both sides had a conversation once in a third country. It is understood that there has been an increased eagerness from Pakistan's side to engage India in a constructive manner. However, the Indian side has been maintaining a tough stance on terror and Kashmir reportedly.&nbsp;

This comes even as Pakistan has announced the appointment of a trade minister at its high commission in Delhi, two times a Pakistan delegation has been to India this month -- first for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Regional Anti-Terror Structure or Rats meet, then visit for Indus water talks. The 2-day Indus water talks in Delhi continue even as Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah sat for talks with India's water commissioner AK Pal. The pilgrim's movement between the two sides has also been opened and continues.&nbsp;

Important to remember that the November/December 2020 talks played a key role in the February 2021 India Pakistan joint statement that reaffirmed the continuity of the ceasefire pact of 2001.&nbsp;

In a breakthrough development last year, India and Pakistan have agreed to lower the temperature at the line of control with "strict observance" of the 2003 ceasefire pact with both the militaries issuing a rare joint statement. The Joint Statement issued simultaneously said, "both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021".&nbsp;

India and Pakistani ties since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack have gone in downhill. The attack that killed over 40 Indian paramilitary men was perpetrated by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed. After India removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the situation had gone further downhill with people to people contact being suspended by Islamabad.&nbsp;

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India and Pakistan's backchannel talks continue at the security establishment level, something that has been on since November/December 2020. Both sides have been meeting in a third country, sometimes in Europe and sometimes in West Asia.

India and Pakistan's backchannel talks continue at the security establishment level, something that has been on since November/December 2020. Both sides have been meeting in a third country, sometimes in Europe and sometimes in West Asia. Last year also saw such engagement, something that has been seen as a line of communication between the two sides. Earlier this year, it is learnt both sides had a conversation once in a third country. It is understood that there has been an increased eagerness from Pakistan's side to engage India in a constructive manner. However, the Indian side has been maintaining a tough stance on terror and Kashmir reportedly. This comes even as Pakistan has announced the appointment of a trade minister at its high commission in Delhi, two times a Pakistan delegation has been to India this month -- first for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Regional Anti-Terror Structure or Rats meet, then visit for Indus water talks. The 2-day Indus water talks in Delhi continue even as Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah sat for talks with India's water commissioner AK Pal. The pilgrim's movement between the two sides has also been opened and continues. Important to remember that the November/December 2020 talks played a key role in the February 2021 India Pakistan joint statement that reaffirmed the continuity of the ceasefire pact of 2001. In a breakthrough development last year, India and Pakistan have agreed to lower the temperature at the line of control with "strict observance" of the 2003 ceasefire pact with both the militaries issuing a rare joint statement. The Joint Statement issued simultaneously said, "both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021". India and Pakistani ties since the 2019 Pulwama terror attack have gone in downhill. The attack that killed over 40 Indian paramilitary men was perpetrated by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed. After India removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the situation had gone further downhill with people to people contact being suspended by Islamabad. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India, Pakistan backchannel talks continue

Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that no meeting is planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

MEA's spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, in response to WION's question at the first weekly MEA presser of the new government, said, "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the SCO Summit in Bishkek."

Speculations were&nbsp;rife that both leaders may meet, especially with the visit of Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood to India.

MEA also clarified on his visit saying it was a "personal visit and there was no meeting scheduled" between Pak FS and any Indian official.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called PM Modi to congratulate after his election victory in the general elections. During the call, PM Modi asked Pak PM to create an environment free of terror.

Ties between the two countries are frayed since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;

India has been asking Pakistan to act on terror and Modi government's policy in its first tenure has been talks and terror cant go together.

On cross border terror, the spokesperson said Pakistan needs to "walk the talk" and take action against terrorist on its territory.

Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that no meeting is planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that no meeting is planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. MEA's spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, in response to WION's question at the first weekly MEA presser of the new government, said, "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the SCO Summit in Bishkek." Speculations were rife that both leaders may meet, especially with the visit of Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood to India. MEA also clarified on his visit saying it was a "personal visit and there was no meeting scheduled" between Pak FS and any Indian official. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called PM Modi to congratulate after his election victory in the general elections. During the call, PM Modi asked Pak PM to create an environment free of terror. Ties between the two countries are frayed since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack. India has been asking Pakistan to act on terror and Modi government's policy in its first tenure has been talks and terror cant go together. On cross border terror, the spokesperson said Pakistan needs to "walk the talk" and take action against terrorist on its territory.

No Modi, Imran meeting planned on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, says MEA 

Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao in China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday.

The second day of the 18th SCO summit began with a welcome ceremony and a group photo of leaders of the eight SCO member-states.

Thereafter the SCO members are scheduled to attend a session restricted only to SCO members.

After this, a plenary session will take place after the signing ceremony and a joint press conference.

In the evening, PM Modi will depart for Qingdao Liuting International Airport and emplane for AFS Palam, where he will reach around 10 in the night.

The Prime Minister is on a two day visit to China to attend the SCO Summit where India is participating as a full member for the first time. India along with Pakistan became the permanent members of the SCO last year.

A day before PM Modi participated in the delegation-level talks with other members of the SCO at Anren Hall in China's Qingdao city on the sidelines of the summit. He also met General Secretary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Rashid Alimov.

PM Modi also held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the port city, where the two leaders took stock of the progress in the implementation of decisions they had taken at their first informal summit in Wuhan.

During the Summit scheduled for &nbspSunday, the leaders of the member states will sign the Qingdao Declaration and some other agreements on security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

The leaders will also analyse international and regional security situations and discuss measures to boost cooperation.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

(With inputs from ANI)

The Prime Minister is on a two day visit to China to attend the SCO Summit where India is participating as a full member for the first time

Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao in China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday. The second day of the 18th SCO summit began with a welcome ceremony and a group photo of leaders of the eight SCO member-states. Thereafter the SCO members are scheduled to attend a session restricted only to SCO members. After this, a plenary session will take place after the signing ceremony and a joint press conference. In the evening, PM Modi will depart for Qingdao Liuting International Airport and emplane for AFS Palam, where he will reach around 10 in the night. The Prime Minister is on a two day visit to China to attend the SCO Summit where India is participating as a full member for the first time. India along with Pakistan became the permanent members of the SCO last year. A day before PM Modi participated in the delegation-level talks with other members of the SCO at Anren Hall in China's Qingdao city on the sidelines of the summit. He also met General Secretary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Rashid Alimov. PM Modi also held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the port city, where the two leaders took stock of the progress in the implementation of decisions they had taken at their first informal summit in Wuhan. During the Summit scheduled for &nbspSunday, the leaders of the member states will sign the Qingdao Declaration and some other agreements on security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. The leaders will also analyse international and regional security situations and discuss measures to boost cooperation. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. (With inputs from ANI)

PM Modi meets Xi ahead of SCO summit