Nawaz Sharif Calls Meeting With PM Modi Historic; Says Must Pick Up Ties From Vajpayee's Time

NEW DELHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday called his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'good, healthy and constructive' one. "I had a very warm meeting with PM Narendra Modi," Sharif said.

Calling the meeting a historic event, Sharif said, "We seek to pick up threads from Lahore declaration from where we left in 1999. Legacy of mistrust and misgivings have to be left behind." "India and Pakistan have a common agenda of peace and economic stability. We agreed to review and carry forward our bilateral agenda," he added.

"My government stands ready to discuss with India all issues in a spirit of cooperation," Sharif said. "I urge that we should change from confrontation to cooperation and not engage in accusations and counter-accusations," he said.

Stating that he was pleased to be in Delhi on Narendra Modi's invite, Sharif said, "I have invited Indian PM Narendra Modi to Pakistan." "Foreign secretaries from both the sides will hold meetings to take talks further," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised issues of terror and the trial in Mumbai attack case in his first bilateral meeting with Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif here today.

According to sources, Modi raised the issue of slow pace of trial in 26/11 terror case which was being held in Pakistan and as also India's core concern of terror with the visiting Pakistani leader.

The two leaders also talked about ways to enhance cooperation in the field of trade during the meeting which was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh among others, they said.

The two leaders had a firm handshake and posed for photographers before heading towards the meeting room for talks at the ceremonial Hyderabad House.

(With inputs from PTI)