Indo-Pak relations: Let's hope for good times, says Abdul Basit

Shimla: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, Thursday, expressed optimism that talks between his country and India will begin soon to overcome the “problems” between the two neighbours.

Speaking to reporters after he delivered a talk on “Pakistan-India Relations: The Current Situation” at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) located at the sprawling Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly known as Viceregal Lodge, Basit said, “We still don't have a date for dialogue to begin but we hope it's sooner rather than later.”

“Doors of diplomacy are never closed, always open...There is always hope, so let's hope for good times to come,” he added.

Last month, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Aizaz Choudhry held talks with his Indian counterpart on bilateral issues. The meeting was held in Delhi on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference.

While it was expected that the talks might lead to progress towards the start of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue which was agreed by the two countries in December last year, there was not much forward, at least officially, on the front.

On its part, India described the Jaishankar-Aizaz talks as an 'informal' interaction.