US welcomes India-Pakistan foreign ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly

The United States has welcomed India's acceptance of Pakistan's proposal for a meeting between of the foreign ministers of the countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), calling it 'terrific news'.

While addressing a press conference, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, "I think that's terrific news for the Indians and Pakistanis to be able to sit down and have a conversation together."

Citing the letters exchanged between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Nauert added that the conditions will hopefully boost bilateral relationship in the future.

"We saw the reports about the positive messages being exchanged between Pak PM and PM Modi. We hope that the conditions will be set for a good, strong relationship, a good, strong bilateral relationship in the future," she said.

These comments come a day after Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, at a press briefing, announced that India has accepted Pakistan's proposal for a meeting between Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

He said the two leaders will meet at a mutually convenient date and time.

However, Kumar also clarified that the meeting between the counterparts does not imply resumption of dialogue or talks with Pakistan.
Imran Khan, in a letter to Prime Minister Modi, had proposed a meeting between Swaraj and Qureshi, on the sidelines of the UNGA.

In the letter, Khan also called for the resumption of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue between the two countries.

-ANI