Sushma Swaraj meets Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad, Dec 9, 2015, (IANS)

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Conference here.

"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj are conducting a meeting to discuss bilateral issues on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' Conference in the capital on Wednesday," Dawn online reported.

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

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.