Indian, Pakistani PMs Hold Unexpected Talks
Ayaz Gul

The prime ministers of India and Pakistan have held a much-hoped-for bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit (区域首脑会议).

Officials describe the half-hour surprise meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan's Zafarulaah Jamali as a courtesy call (礼节性拜访).

After the meeting, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said the prime ministers exchanged views on（就……交换了意见） recent steps their countries have taken to improve usually tense relations.

"They met in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The two prime ministers agreed that the momentum, which has been created in our bilateral relations should be maintained."

Foreign Minister Sinha says Mr. Vajpayee is expected to meet Monday with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Masood Khan calls the meetings a good beginning that could lead to resumption of official talks between India and Pakistan.

"It’s a good beginning, and we hope that this would culminate（达到高潮）in a dialogue. These meetings, high-level meetings are very important. They create a new atmosphere, and they can facilitate bilateral negotiations also, and the dialogue that Pakistan has been pursuing for quite some time."

Last April, India and Pakistan began a series of steps to ease border tensions（缓和边界紧张局势） that had pushed them to the brink（把……推到了边缘） of another war over the mountain territory of Kashmir（克什米尔）.

In the past few months, India and Pakistan have restored full diplomatic relations（全面恢复外交关系） and have resumed road, rail and air links. The two rival nations are also observing a cease-fire in divided Kashmir.

The meeting between Indian and Pakistan prime ministers followed the start of the summit gathering of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Islamabad.