Foreign Secy S Jaishankar to take part in talks

This is quite a turnaround from last year, when the Ministry of External Affairs was kept out of the loop while the decision to cancel the talks was taken. Then Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had been asked to implement the decision taken by the Prime Minister’s office, as the government had decided to cancel the FS-level talks over Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit meeting the Hurriyat leaders before the talks.

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The formal talks between the two NSAs are scheduled to take place on August 24. Sources said Pakistan NSA Sartaj Aziz is reaching on the afternoon of August 23 and, so far, his only engagement for the day is attending the evening reception to which Hurriyat leaders have been called.

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From the Indian side, NSA Ajit K Doval will lead the delegation, while Jaishankar will be assisting him from the diplomatic side. Besides, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, Home Affairs, intelligence and investigative agencies are also likely to be part of the delegation.

Sources said a final delegation list is being framed and will be exchanged in a day or two.

Besides Aziz, the Pakistan side is likely to be represented by Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and senior officials from the Foreign and Interior ministries.

Sources said the Pakistani side has requested for a “call-on” meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “It is possible that the meeting might happen on August 23 or 24. It is still to be decided,” sources, privy to the arrangements, said.

Islamabad was also considering a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, but South Block has conveyed that she will be travelling to Egypt for a bilateral visit during that time.