PM Modi meets with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu on Wednesday. (AFP Photo/PIB/Asish Maitra)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with leaders of four South Asian nations on the sidelines of 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu on Wednesday, but the conspicuous absence from the meeting list was Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He held talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgey and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.
Officially, there was no meeting planned between Mr Modi and Mr Shraif as of Wednesday. However, it is expected that both leaders may meet during the retreat in a nearby hill station, Dhulikhel, on Thursday morning.
"We have not received any request from Pakistan," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
In his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr Modi thanked him for pardoning and sending back five Indian fishermen earlier this month, according to Mr Akbaruddin.
Rajapaksa also welcomed the initiative taken by India for develop and launch satellite dedicated to SAARC.
In his meeting with Mr Ghani, Mr Modi committed to strengthening relations with Afghanistan.
Regarding the meeting with Hasina, Akbaruddin said: "India, Bangladesh prime ministers see grater prospects of cooperation amongst democracies of South Asia."
After meeting with Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgey said that he held his first bilateral meeting with the Indian leader.
"A lot to discuss, especially how to take Saarc forward after his powerful speech today," Tobgey said
During the meeting, Modi had appreciated Bhutan National Reading Year 2015 and committed to send experts who organized 'Gujurat is Reading' to the Himalayan nation.
Modi also invited the Bhutanese leader to visit Gujarat.
During Thursday's retreat, the leaders will spend over two hours in informal talks. Modi also held talks with Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala who was elected as Saarc chair Wednesday.
Other regional leaders are also meeting each other on the sidelines of the summit.