The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that India is for peaceful and co-operative relations with Pakistan but the emphasis should be on meaningful dialogue.
"There were no plans for any substantive and structured discussion between India and Pakistan. SAARC is not just about these two countries, but about all the neighbours in South Asia," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
"India is for peaceful and co-operative relations with Pakistan. If today's interaction or handshake leads to that, we will welcome it. But the emphasis should be on meaningful dialogue," he added.
The MEA spokesperson further said that the next SAARC Summit would be held in Islamabad.
"It is traditional for SAARC to move in an alphabetical order. Hence, the next Summit will be held in Islamabad. We should appreciate Pakistan's invitation to the next SAARC Summit in the country. It would be better not to read too much into courtesies," he added.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif exchanged pleasantries during an informal retreat of SAARC leaders in Dhulikhel.
