Modi, Sharif to meet on Friday, at least 5 agreements between India, Pakistan likely to be signed

Ufa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif will be meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Ufa. The leaders are likely to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

At least 5 agreements are expected to be signed between the two leaders. These include Indian and Pakistani banks to be set up in each other's countries. Three year multiple entry visas is also likely to be given to Pakistan businessmen. Multiple entry visas is also likely to be given to bus travellers on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route and Delhi-Lahore route.

Modi and Sharif had last met in Kathmandu in November at the SAARC Summit where they did not, however, hold any bilateral meeting.

Earlier at the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, the Prime Minister had called Sharif and extended his best wishes while stressing the need for having peaceful and bilateral ties.

During his telephonic conversation, Modi had also conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart India's decision to release detained Pakistani fishermen on the occasion of Ramzan.

The call was seen by many as an attempt to reach out to Pakistan after leaders from both sides exchanged sharp comments after Modi's critical remarks about Pakistan during his Bangladesh visit and in the wake of India's military action in Myanmar.