US hails meeting of India and Pak foreign ministers in New York , calls it 'terrific news'

Meeting between Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in New York on the sidelines of UNGA session, will be the first such high-level interaction between the neighbours after three years.

Image: AFP

New Delhi: Hailing India’s acceptance of Pakistani proposal for talks between the foreign ministers of the two nations on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly session in New York, the US termed it as a “terrififc” news. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that she thinks it is a terrific news for Indians and Pakistanis to be able to sit down and have a conversation together. On Thursday, India responded positively to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s proposal for a talk between the foreign ministers of both the countries. Spokesperson Minister of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar announced that India has agreed to a meeting between Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Pakistan’s request. This will be the first such high-level interaction between the neighbours after three years. "I can confirm that on the request from the Pakistani side a meeting between the two foreign ministers will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA at a mutually convenient date and time. "We have just agreed to the meeting. The Permanent Missions of both India and Pakistan will together work out the details. Till then, what will be discussed in the meeting, we will have to wait till the meeting takes place," External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told the weekly media briefing here. Replying to questions, Kumar suggested that the coming meeting was not resumption of the dialogue process. Nauert also appreciated the exchange of messaged between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We saw the reports about the positive messages being exchanged between Prime Minister Khan and also Prime Minister Modi. And we hope that the conditions will be set for a good strong relationship, a good strong bilateral relationship in the future," she said.

I think that’s terrific news for the Indians&Pakistanis to be able to sit down and have a conversation together. We saw the reports about the positive messages being exchanged between Pak PM Khan&PM Modi: US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert pic.twitter.com/giDPu8Xjo1

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2018

We hope that the conditions will be set for a good, strong relationship, a good, strong bilateral relationship in the future: US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert pic.twitter.com/w6GmgYJkZk

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2018

The United States has traditionally welcomed any talks between India and Pakistan, the pace of which, it has noted, depends on the leadership of the two countries. (Inputs from agencies)