Indo-Pak comprehensive dialogue restored

Breaking the logjam in their ties, India and Pakistan today announced that they have decided to engage in a "comprehensive" dialogue that will include peace and security and Jammu and Kashmir. Capping a series of positive developments since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif met in Paris only ten days ago, it was announced here that the Foreign Secretaries will meet to decide the modalities and schedule of the dialogue. Pakistan has assured India of "steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion" of the Mumbai attack trial, something that India has been pressing for long. The National Security Advisors (NSAs) of India and Pakistan who had recently met in Bangkok, will continue to address all issues connected to terrorism, according to a joint statement issued by the two countries. The joint statement came after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Sharif and later his Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz here on the concluding day of her two-day visit for attending a multilateral conference on Afghanistan.