Modi-Sharif meeting not ruled out

Ms. Swaraj also expressed India’s disappointment in delay of the trial of Mumbai terror attack case in Pakistan

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (centre) along with Minister of State, General V.K. Singh (retd) and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh during a press conference in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

India does not have a closed mind on the question of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said here on Monday.

“We do not have a preconceived approach towards it. We shall decide according to how the situation emerges,” Ms. Swaraj said.

The Minister said India’s engagement with China involves cooperation and competition, and expressed confidence that the forthcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jingping would yield “substantial and solid” results.

Presenting the track record of her Ministry at her first press conference, Ms. Swaraj said the National Democratic Alliance government’s diplomacy so far has been “strong, sensitive and proactive.”

She said Mr. Modi’s recent remarks in Japan about the dangers of “expansionism” did not refer to China.

The Minister, however, added that India wanted China to “understand and appreciate” its “sensitivities” regarding Arunachal Pradesh as New Delhi respected Beijing’s position on Tibet.

Ms. Swaraj blamed Pakistan for the recent collapse of bilateral engagements with it as it insisted on talking to Kashmiri separatists, but added that talks between the two countries could be revived.