Saudi Arabia forms Islamic counter-terrorism coalition

Expressing the hope that the renewed dialogue with Pakistan would open a new chapter of peace and development in the region, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday told both Houses of Parliament that a “comprehensive bilateral dialogue” would start and the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would work out its modalities.

“The new dialogue, we sincerely hope, marks a new beginning also for peace and development in the whole region,” she said. India had emphasised the need to speed up the judicial process in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack by militants from the neighbouring country killing scores of people. She said that “positive developments” of the talks between the two National Security Advisors in Bangkok had formed the backdrop of her meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.

“Both sides condemned terrorism and resolved to cooperate to eliminate this menace. There we dwelt on the need for Pakistan to expedite the Mumbai terrorist attack trial,” Ms.Swaraj said. “The Indian side was assured of the steps being taken to expedite its early conclusion.” She reiterated the Narendra Modi government’s commitment to national security.

“This government accords the highest priority to the country’s security. In order to meet the threats, the government will take all steps, including through diplomatic channels,” she said. “At the same time, the government is also committed to building an environment of peaceful and cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan, so that the efforts for peace and development in South Asia, initiated by the government on the day of assuming office itself, are taken further forward.”

The Minister saw the addressing of issues of concern through dialogue and establishment of cooperative relations as the aims of the dialogue.The statement was hardly audible in the Upper House amid a din. The Lok Sabha, however, was in order when she spoke there.