Big Moment : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Exchanges Pleasantries With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, hours after landing in the Pakistani capital to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The brief exchange took place at a dinner reception hosted by Sharif at his residence in honour of the delegates of the SCO member countries. Jaishankar and Sharif warmly shook hands and held a very brief interaction.

The Pakistan prime minister greeted all the leaders of the delegations of the SCO member nations.

It is the first time in nearly nine years that India’s foreign minister travelled to Pakistan even as the ties between the two neighbours remained tense over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

The external affairs minister will lead the Indian delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of Government summit on October 16.

Reacting S Jaishankar’s visit , National Conference president Farooq Abdullah quoted by ANI said , “I am happy that the ice has broken with all our differences with Pakistan…I hope that both countries will start a new chapter for peace. I hope that good things will happen and that EAM S Jaishankar will remember Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words that friends can be changed neighbours cannot be changed…I hope he carries that message with him. Pakistan and India are one country before it was divided…Trade rather than going through Dubai will go directly through the Wagah border…A new chapter of friendship will start as much hatred has existed in the past. This hatred affects the Hindus in Pakistan and Muslims in India…”it,