Will hold talks to improve bilateral ties and take them forward, says Sushma in Pakistan

Islamabad: Setting the tone for their talks tomorrow, Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan on Tuesday expressed optimism and desire to improve ties which have witnessed strain in the past few months, maintaining the effort will be to carry forward the engagement.

After arriving on a two-day visit, primarily to attend a multilateral meet on Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said relationship between the two countries should be better and that she will hold talks with Pakistani leaders to find ways to improve bilateral ties.

"I have come with the message that ties between the two countries should be good and move forward," said Swaraj.

Swaraj will hold talks with her Pakistani counterpart Sartaz Aziz and call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the conference tomorrow.

Aziz said he was expecting a "good and positive" outcome from the meeting tomorrow and both sides should take forward the engagement to improve ties.

"My expectations are good and positive from talks tomorrow," Aziz told PTI.

When asked about Swaraj's comment that she has come with a message that ties between the two countries should be "good and move forward", he said, "My message is also that we should take our engagement forward and improve ties."

Swaraj said talks will be to improve bilateral ties and take them forward.

"Heart of Asia conference is very important for India because it is associated with Afghanistan. That is why I have come here to participate. Since it is happening in Pakistan it is necessary and appropriate for me to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and hold talks with my counterpart Sartaj Aziz to talk about improving the bilateral ties and take them forward," Swaraj said.

Swaraj's visit comes after talks between the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan in Bangkok on Sunday, where they discussed terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir and a range of key bilateral issues apart from agreeing to carry forward the "constructive" engagement.