ISLAMABAD: Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is here to participate in the SAARC ministerial conference, today along with his counterparts from the member countries called on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Singh was part of the joint delegation of the Interior/Home Ministers of SAARC nations when they called on the Pakistani Prime Minister at his office.
“It was a formal courtesy call, nothing else,” an official said.
The Interior/Home Ministers’ of SAARC nations were with Sharif for about 20 minutes during which only pleasantries were exchanged, the official said, adding nothing formal was discussed.
Sharif’s meeting with a senior Indian functionary came amidst the ongoing strain in bilateral relations between India and Pakistan following the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen militant Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8.
The decision of Singh joining the Interior/Home Ministers in the courtesy call of Sharif was taken after several rounds of consultations among top officials of Ministries of Home, External Affairs and Prime Minister’s Office last night.
The eight-member SAARC grouping comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.–PTI
