File Photo: PM Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu. (Reuters)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif this evening at a dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of their first bilateral talks, sources told NDTV.
While official confirmation and details of the interaction are yet to come, sources said the two leaders greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries.
On Friday, PM Modi and Mr Sharif will hold bilateral talks -- the first in more than a year -- on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
Sources have indicated that PM Modi will, once again, strongly raise India's concerns on terror with Pakistan and that all outstanding issues will be brought to the table.
But the discussions are not necessarily a prelude to a resumption of the dialogue process between the two countries -- that decision can be taken only after New Delhi gauges Pakistan's response in the talks tomorrow, sources said.
The talks are being held at India's initiative - the process had started when PM Modi called up Mr Sharif to wish him at the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan.
The PM's gesture comes despite several areas of tension between India and Pakistan, including the tree cross-border ceasefire violations this week.
Today, a BSF jawan died after being caught in Pakistani sniper fire in Baramullah sector of Jammu and Kashmir.