Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with leaders of four countries of South Asia within the framework of the 18th SAARC Summit here on Wednesday, but the conspicuous absence of the list of the meeting was the prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif.
Held talks with Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgey and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
There was no meeting scheduled between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Shraif from Wednesday. But speculation abound in Kathmandu that both leaders will meet during the retreat on a nearby hill station, Dhulikhel, Thursday morning.
We have not received any request from Pakistan, "said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India,.
In his meeting with President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Modi thanked him for forgiving and send back five Indian fishermen earlier this month, according Akbaruddin.
Rajapaksa also welcomed the initiative taken by India to develop and launch satellite dedicated to the SAARC.
In his meeting with Ghani, Modi has pledged to strengthen relations with Afghanistan.
As for the meeting with Hasina, Akbaruddin said: "India, Bangladesh Prime Ministers are grater prospects of cooperation between the democracies of South Asia."
After meeting with Modi, Prime Minister of Bhutan Tobgey said he held his first bilateral meeting with the Indian leader.
"There is much to discuss, especially how to take SAARC forward after his powerful speech today," said Tobgey
During the meeting, Modi had appreciated Bhutan National Year of Reading 2015 and pledged to send experts organized 'Gujarat is reading' to the Himalayan nation.
Modi also invited the leader of Bhutan to visit Gujarat.
During withdrawal of Thursday, leaders will spend more than two hours in informal conversations. Modi also held talks with Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who was elected as president SAARC Friday.
Other regional leaders also meet each other on the sidelines of the summit.
