External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad. (Press Trust of India photo)
Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet next month to discuss the details of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue that was announced during Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad earlier this week, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has announced.
On Wednesday, amid efforts by both nations to improve ties, Ms Swaraj had announced in Islamabad that India and Pakistan will resume comprehensive bilateral dialogue.
"India and Pakistan are ready for talks. How this dialogue can be taken forward - the schedule and modalities will be decided in due course," Ms Swaraj had said after meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz.
The discussions will involve "peace and security, CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen... Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-Terrorism... Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and religious tourism," said a joint statement.
"The Indian side was assured of the steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion of the Mumbai trial," the joint statement read.
Ms Swaraj had gone to Islamabad on Tuesday to attend a conference on Afghanistan. At the 'Heart of Asia Summit', she said, "It is time we display maturity and self-confidence to do business with each other and strengthen regional trade and cooperation."
It was the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in three years and came after a surprise meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif in Paris two weeks ago on the sidelines of the climate change conference.
The meeting between the two Prime Ministers had led to secret talks between the National Security Advisers of both countries in Bangkok on Sunday.