According to Basit, the meetings are following up on the groundwork laid by the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India during their meeting in Islamabad last year.
World number two Andy Murray is planning to participate in the forthcoming Rio Olympics in order to defend his Olympic gold medal despite growing concerns over the rapid spread of Zika virus in Brazil. Earlier, in an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 150 health experts had said that the current plans for the prestigious event need to be revised while citing several scientific studies that revealed the adverse effects of the virus. The WHO, however, turned down calls to move the Olympics venue, saying that moving the games would "not significantly alter" the spread of the virus. Murray, however, would head into the tournament after taking appropriate guidance from the Foreign Office and the British Olympic Association about the danger that the virus poses, the Guardian reported.
Pakistan could grant the Most Favoured Nation status to India by October next year, a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said.
The Russian-made chopper, owned by the provincial government of Punjab, was on its way to Russia on routine maintenance when it suffered unknown technical glitch and had to force land in Azra district of restive Logar province on Thursday.
"Pakistan had positively evaluated the talks and welcomed India's readiness for a broad ranging engagement," Khar said in a statement issued here by the Foreign Office, a day after Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Yosuf Raza Gilani on the margins of the SAARC summit in Maldives.
India and Pakistan agreed last year on a number of steps aimed at increasing bilateral trade.
India has ended regulatory uncertainty: Modi assures Malaysia.
A Foreign Office official told PTI that the eight-member Indian delegation arrived in Lahore at 9.15 am (local time).
An angry Pakistan on Thursday slammed a United States move to freeze aid worth $ 700 million, saying it was "not based on facts and takes a narrow vision of the overall situation", in the latest sign of the fraying bilateral ties. "We believe that the move in the US Congress is not based on facts and takes a narrow vision of the overall situation," said Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit.
Pakistan on Friday said Afghanistan should properly check its facts before making allegations that a plot to kill Afghan President Hamid Karzai was hatched on its soil. The Afghan intelligence agency said on Thursday that it had thwarted a plot to assassinate Karzai by arresting a bodyguard and five persons with links to the Haqqani network and the Al Qaeda. Officials said the plot had its origins in Pakistan's Waziristan tribal region.
The Dawn reported that the alleged Indian intelligence personnel, whose cover was blown off in the media leak include commercial counsellor Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri, first secretary, press and culture Balbir Singh, first secretary, commercial Anurag Singh, visa attache Amardeep Singh Bhatti, visa assistants Dharmedra, Vijay Kumar Verma and Madhavan Nanda Kumar, and assistant, personnel welfare office Jayabalan Senthil.
"President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the government and the people of Pakistan have condemned the blasts in Mumbai and expressed distress on the loss of lives and injuries," said a statement issued by Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua.
A confidential note from the Prime Minister's Office has instructed foreign office heads of missions and union ministries to not serve no non-vegetarian food at banquet-dinner or lunches at 7 Race Course Road in the prime minister's presence. The instructions are extended to banquets hosted in the PM's honour on foreign soil as well.
ILC consists of 34 members who must be experts on international law. They are elected by the General Assembly from a list of candidates nominated by governments of member states in the UN.
Menon will present his credentials to President Pervez Musharraf after he returns from his three-nation tour. Musharraf is scheduled to reach Islamabad on Saturday from Rabat.
Pakistan on Wednesday said that India had not produced witnesses belonging to the security forces before its Joint Investigation Team on the Pathankot terror attack.
Pakistan on Friday lodged a protest with the Indian government over an incident in which an Indian warship allegedly brushed with a Pakistani frigate escorting MV Suez, an Egyptian-owned ship that was recently freed by Somali pirates after the payment of ransom.
Pakistan was on Thursday dismissive of India's attempts to raise fresh evidence of Inter Service Intelligence's links to the 26/11 attacks at the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks, stating clearly that the agenda would be limited to three issues: Kashmir, peace and security and friendly exchanges.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh that Kashmir and other longstanding issues have to be addressed "earnestly" and noted their meeting was a "win-win" event.
Pak warned of "appropriate action" if India violates the Indus Water Treaty and said it is closely monitoring the situation, amid reports that New Delhi may revisit the key water sharing accord.
Pak-US ties are sliding down the hill due to difference over handling of peace issue in Afghanistan and US' growing defence tie with India.
The ICJ had asked Pakistan to submit its written response or memorial by December 13 before the court could start further proceedings.
Terming as "unacceptable" the incident where an Indian woman's hand was chopped off by her employer in Saudi Arabia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said the matter has been taken up with Saudi authorities.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday underlined Pakistan's commitment for "friendly, cooperative and good" neighbourly relations with India as she met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and handed over an invitation to him from Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April on charges of espionage and terrorism.
Pakistan on Monday criticised the release by WikiLeaks of secret United States' diplomatic cables which raise concerns that radioactive material in nuclear power stations could be used in terror attacks. Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit described the release of the sensitive documents as 'irresponsible behaviour' and said Pakistan is taking stock of revelations concerning the country.
The India-Pakistan dialogue process should be "uninterrupted and uninterruptible" and help in building trust between the two countries, Pakistan's minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said on Tuesday.
Pakistan on Thursday said US drone attacks in its tribal belt had become a "core irritant" in bilateral relations and top Pakistani leaders have clearly conveyed this position to their American counterparts. "Drone attacks have become a core irritant in the counter-terrorism campaign," Foreign office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua told a weekly news briefing.
China and Pakistan on Thursday dismissed as "baseless" reports about the presence of Chinese troops along the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India should demonstrate "seriousness" in implementing its announcements regarding reducing troops in Jammu and Kashmir as a confidence-building measure, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said.
According to sources, India is to present all actionable evidence against Pakistan if required at international bodies.
Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.
Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed as "baseless accusations" National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon's remarks that David Headley was linked to the Pakistani establishment and intelligence agencies.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says China 'protects' violent Islamic terror groups from UN sanctions.
Pakistan is hopeful that the upcoming talks with India will lead to a "meaningful and sustained process of engagement" that will bridge the trust deficit between the two countries and help resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.
All of 34, Hina Khar Rabbani, Pakistan's first woman and youngest foreign minister, was thrust into the spotlight as she landed in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said in a statement that the US report "Avoiding water wars in South and Central Asia," released on February 22, acknowledges that dams India is building in Jammu and Kashmir "will limit supply of water to Pakistan at crucial moments."
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances