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| Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in Pakistan for talks | Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in Pakistan for talks |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is in Islamabad to attend a security conference on Afghanistan and to hold rare talks with Pakistani officials. | Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj is in Islamabad to attend a security conference on Afghanistan and to hold rare talks with Pakistani officials. |
| The minister will join representatives from 14 nations at the annual Heart of Asia conference on Wednesday. | The minister will join representatives from 14 nations at the annual Heart of Asia conference on Wednesday. |
| Her visit comes days after India and Pakistan held peace talks in Bangkok. | Her visit comes days after India and Pakistan held peace talks in Bangkok. |
| They cancelled a high-level meeting in August after months of tension in disputed Kashmir but ties have eased since. Few expect any breakthroughs. | They cancelled a high-level meeting in August after months of tension in disputed Kashmir but ties have eased since. Few expect any breakthroughs. |
| The Heart of Asia gathering brings together Asian and other countries to discuss the future of Afghanistan and its neighbours. | The Heart of Asia gathering brings together Asian and other countries to discuss the future of Afghanistan and its neighbours. |
| Security co-operation between Afghanistan and Pakistan is seen as crucial in countering a growing threat from the Taliban and other militants in the region. Many Afghans accuse Pakistan of supporting the Taliban, which Islamabad denies. | |
| Afghanistan is also a source of tension between Pakistan and India, with the former accusing the latter of meddling in what it sees as its backyard. | Afghanistan is also a source of tension between Pakistan and India, with the former accusing the latter of meddling in what it sees as its backyard. |
| But in a sign of a thaw in the relationship, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a brief meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at a climate change conference in Paris on 1 December. | But in a sign of a thaw in the relationship, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a brief meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at a climate change conference in Paris on 1 December. |
| That was followed by Sunday's meeting in the Thai capital, Bangkok. A statement issued after Sunday's meeting said the security advisers of the two countries had talked about terrorism, Kashmir, peace and security. | That was followed by Sunday's meeting in the Thai capital, Bangkok. A statement issued after Sunday's meeting said the security advisers of the two countries had talked about terrorism, Kashmir, peace and security. |
| The statement added that the Bangkok meeting was held in a "candid, cordial and constructive atmosphere". | The statement added that the Bangkok meeting was held in a "candid, cordial and constructive atmosphere". |
| "It was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement between the two countries," it said. | "It was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement between the two countries," it said. |
| Correspondents say the high-level talks and Ms Swaraj's visit show that the nuclear-armed rivals are open to restart peace talks after what was described as a "diplomatic fiasco" in August. | Correspondents say the high-level talks and Ms Swaraj's visit show that the nuclear-armed rivals are open to restart peace talks after what was described as a "diplomatic fiasco" in August. |
| India had asked Pakistan to restrict the August talks solely to militancy after a row over the Pakistani delegation's plan to meet Kashmiri separatist leaders. | India had asked Pakistan to restrict the August talks solely to militancy after a row over the Pakistani delegation's plan to meet Kashmiri separatist leaders. |
| The stalemate over the agenda led to the talks being cancelled. | The stalemate over the agenda led to the talks being cancelled. |
| But four months later the talks are back on - Ms Swaraj becomes the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in three years. | But four months later the talks are back on - Ms Swaraj becomes the first Indian foreign minister to visit Pakistan in three years. |
| The South Asian rivals have fought two wars and a limited conflict over Kashmir. | |
| Pakistan has always insisted that there cannot be any dialogue with India unless the issue of Kashmir is on the agenda. | Pakistan has always insisted that there cannot be any dialogue with India unless the issue of Kashmir is on the agenda. |
| The region, claimed by both countries in its entirety, has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years. A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it and of cross-border shelling. | The region, claimed by both countries in its entirety, has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years. A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it and of cross-border shelling. |