Pakistan summons envoy from India for consultations

Islamabad, Feb 26: Pakistan summoned its High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit for urgent consultations on the upcoming visit of Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar to Pakistan.

Basit has reached Islamabad and is briefing top officials of the foreign office engaged in planning parleys with the Indian foreign secretary, Dawn reported citing sources.

Basit is also expected to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his key advisor Sartaj Aziz.

He is expected to brief them over the latest issues between the two countries.

The Indian government has desired a meeting between Jaishankar and Sharif and is awaiting Islamabad's response on this, said sources.

The Indian foreign secretary would deliver an important message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Pakistani counterpart, the sources added.

A significant number of Indian journalists are also expected to arrive in Islamabad for coverage of the talks.

IANS