Big takeaways: PM Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan in 2016, NSAs of both countries to meet in Delhi

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The talks come just a day after fresh round of firing between both countries across the Line of Control. A BSF jawan was killed when Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian pickets in Nowgam sector of north Kashmir.

Tension has been brewing between both countries ever since talks between foreign secretaries were called off last August after the Pakistani envoy held talks with Kashmiri separatists ahead of a bilateral dialogue.

Here is the joint statement of the briefing.

And the final text of India, Pak statement. Read out by Foreign Secys after PMs Modi & Sharif meet. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/y0RDVmbll4

— Shubhajit Roy (@ShubhajitRoy) July 10, 2015

Highlights

1:00 pm: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has welcomed the announcements.

India-Pak joint statement at Ufa shows signs of positive movement. The engagement at different levels will hopefully open new possibilities

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) July 10, 2015

Welcome the decision to expedite the trial pertaining to 2008 Mumbai attack including additional information like providing voice samples.

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) July 10, 2015

The joint statement is a step forward towards normalising bilateral relations, however the future outcome will be keenly watched.

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) July 10, 2015

12:06 pm: The Prime Minister is now holding talks with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani.

12: 05 pm: A meeting will take place between the two NSA’s in New Delhi.

11:55 am: PM Narendra Modi will be visiting Pakistan for the SAARC summit next year.

11:30 am: The talks have conclusively ended, but there is still no sign of the foreign ministry briefing.

10: 45 am: PM Modi will be meeting Afghan president Ashraf Ghani after the meeting.

#BRICS2015 @PMOIndia @narendramodi to meet Afghan President after the Pak meeting. Then attend the SCO @IndianExpress

— Anil Sasi (@sasi_anil) July 10, 2015

10: 42 am: Just getting information that the talks have been extended beyond the scheduled time limit.

10: 30 am: The Indian delegation included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar while Sartaj Aziz, Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs and national security, was in the Pakistani delegation.

9: 55 am: A press briefing by India’s foreign ministry office is expected soon after the talks conclude.

9: 50 am: PM Modi and Nawaz Sharif have met and shook hands ahead of talks in Ufa, Russia. They are now closeted in a meeting, likely to last about half an hour.

Neighbourhood engagement. PM @narendramodi meets PM Nawaz Sharif on sidelines of SCO Summit pic.twitter.com/csMUUdECLI

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) July 10, 2015

9: 17 am: The two leaders had an informal meeting at a dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin last night.

9: 00 am: India is likely to raise the release of Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, the 26/11 attacks mastermind, from a Pakistani jail.

8: 55 am: Meanwhile, the US has welcomed the proposed Modi-Sharif meeting, saying tension between the two country is not in anyone’s interest.

“We welcome the (upcoming) meeting between Indian and Pakistani leaders there on the sidelines of this conference,” State Department Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters yesterday at his daily news conference when asked about the Modi-Sharif meeting in Ufa.

8: 50 am: PM Modi held extensive talks with each of the four leaders of the BRICS nations. At the summit, he proposed the setting up of a BRICS Agriculture Research Centre.

8:05 am: When asked by reporters about the meeting, Nawaz Sharif said, “Let’s talk first.”

8:00 am: The meeting is expected to take place at 9:15 am IST today, as confirmed by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.