SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Pakistan in November to attend the SAARC Summit, however, New Delhi officials said Tuesday his attendance has not yet been confirmed.
“Decisions and announcements of such nature are not made so far in advance,” India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
That tweet comes just one day after High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale told an assembled crowd at an event in Karachi Monday that the visit is completely feasible despite the tension between the two nations. “I can’t say about the future but as of today Prime Minister Modi is looking forward to visiting Islamabad for the SAARC summit in November,” he said to the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations.
He added that both India and Pakistan have a multitude of matters to discuss, but that the two nations should remain solely focused on further expanding their economies. “Low-hanging fruit,” Bambawale said in describing their economic growth.
Similarly, his comments were made just as reports have begun surfacing that Modi might instead opt to skip the summit in the light of heated tension between India and Pakistan. Particularly over Jammu and Kashmir.
Bambawale added that India’s only desire is to see a prosperous, moderate and stable Pakistan emerge in the coming years. However, he did admit trust and confidence between New Delhi and Islamabad is lacking. The best way to mend the relationship between the two, he said, is by following the blueprint of increasing trade and business, a blueprint which was laid out by both governments back in 2012.
The total trade between the two countries was worth just $2.5 billion a year while its potential was of $20 billion.
