Describing the brief meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris as a positive development, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Saturday said the bilateral problems between the two Asian neighbours could be solved only through mutual talks and understanding.
"It is very positive that Prime Minister Modi met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Now, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would travel and it is good. India and Pakistan are neighbours and we have to normalise our relations. We cannot be in permanent perpetual conflict, hostility and we need to improve our relations," Raja told ANI here.
"We should promote people to people contact and our bilateral problems need to be resolved through mutual talks, understanding and mutual trust. I think it is positive and I hope the Government of India will carry forward the process. Pakistan will reciprocate and will also carry forward this process of dialogue in the coming days," he added.
The two Prime Ministers met briefly in Paris on November 30. Both leaders warmly held hands before sitting down for a chat amidst frosty ties between the two neighbouring nations.
The duo had earlier met in Russian city of Ufa and agreed that their National Security Advisors would meet.
Pakistan has formally invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to attend the 'Heart of Asia' Conference to be held in Islamabad on December 8. However, there is no official confirmation from the India side in this regard.