Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid (L) and Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on foreign affairs in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 13, 2013. <\/p>\n
Senior Indian and Pakistani officials have renewed efforts to mend New Delhi-Islamabad ties in an attempt to reduce tension in the troubled South Asia region.\n<\/p>\n
Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on foreign affairs, held talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in Bishkek on Friday.\n<\/p>\n
The meeting took place on sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the capital of Kyrgyzstan.\n<\/p>\n
The fresh talks were aimed at resolving long-standing disputes including the Kashmir issue.\n<\/p>\n
Media reports say, however, that no major breakthroughs were made on controversial issues such as the Kashmir dispute and terrorism. Nevertheless, the two countries have agreed to ease a number of trade and travel restrictions in the interest of peace.\n<\/p>\n
India and Pakistan have in recent weeks accused each other of violating a 10-year-old ceasefire over Kashmir.\n<\/p>\n
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947 — two of them over Kashmir.\n<\/p>\n
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored Line of Control, but is claimed in full by both countries. It lies at the heart of more than 60 years of hostility between India and Pakistan.\n<\/p>\n
JR\/KA\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n