Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and home ministers of other SAARC countries met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday. However, there will be no bilateral meeting between Singh and Pakistani counter-part Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami on Thursday.
Terrorism will be a key point of discussion during the meeting. Singh is expected to raise issues like cross-border terrorism and Dawood Ibrahim, who is believed to be living in Lahore. Earlier reports had said that a bilateral meeting to discuss the Pathankot terror attack and Pakistan funding separatists in Kashmir could be held.
Sharif, who addressed the event, said that SAARC has made commendable contribution in promoting greater regional integration in South Asia.
"We must do a reality check of what we have achieved so far and what still remains to be done. We must do a reality check of what we have achieved so far and what still remains to be done. It is time for us to seize the moment, to leverage our potential and overcome our challenges. Pakistan is committed to SAARC process and desires to see it a successful regional organisation," Khan said at the inaugural session.
Sharif also spoke about operation "Zarb-e-Azb" and Pakistan's commitment to purge its soil of terrorists.
Singh reached Islamabad despite threats from Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba on Wednesday. He was flown to his hotel on a chopper from the airport. Various other groups also joined the anti-Indian sloganeering after Kashmir unrest.
The Kashmir issue won't be discussed during the SAARC meeting in Islamabad as it is an internal matter, an official had said.
