Modi writes, Pak misreads, rectifies

New Delhi, August 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, in a letter, conveyed to his newly-elected Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan India’s commitment to “meaningful” and “constructive” engagement with Islamabad and emphasised the need to work for a terror-free South Asia, official sources said on Monday.

Soon after the news of congratulatory letter, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reportedly indicated that the Indian PM had called for talks between the two countries. However, hours later, Pakistan’s Foreign Office clarified that he had “not made an offer of a dialogue” in the letter. It said Pakistan looked forward to a mutually beneficial, uninterrupted dialogue with India to resolve all issues. 

Sources said India’s position that talks and terror could not go hand-in-hand had not changed. “In the letter, the PM expressed India’s commitment to build good neighbourly relations and pursue meaningful and constructive engagement for the benefit of the people of the region,” they said. 

In Islamabad, Qureshi offered “uninterrupted” dialogue  to resolve all outstanding issues, saying it was the “only wise course” as the two countries could not afford any “adventurism”. — TNS/PTI