Change of heart? Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar sounds optimistic on Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Days after warning Pakistan of giving effective response to its unprovoked firing along the border in J&K, foreign secretary S Jaishankar on Monday sounded an optimistic note that relations with Islamabad can be taken forward.

“…the relationship with Pakistan has its share of challenges, but is part of the neighbourhood agenda that I mentioned earlier. Our prime ministers met a week ago (in Ufa, Russia) and agreed on steps to counter terrorism and strengthen peace and tranquillity on the border.

We hope to take that forward,” said Jaishankar, while delivering a lecture organised by the International Institute of Strategic Studies in Singapore. He noted that since the Modi government took charge, India’s approach toward neighbours has “undergone a big shift, symbolised by the invitation extended to their leaders when the government was first sworn in”.