Modi, Sharif to meet on Friday

Ufa (Russia), July 9 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif here on Friday, an official said.

"It is confirmed. PM @narendramodi and PM Nawaz Sharif will have a bilateral meeting in Ufa tomorrow at 9.15 am on sidelines of SCO Summit," India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The confirmation puts to rest speculation on a possible meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The two leaders last met on May 26 last year, during Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi.

The Modi-Sharif meeting will seek to bring a thaw in the bilateral relations that had seen a downturn following continuing firings on the border and Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at international fora.

India is also upset with Pakistan over the release from jail of 26/11 mastermind Zakiur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Both India and Pakistan are to be made permanent members of the SCO.