The much-anticipated meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is still a mystery as the two sides try to come out of the recent Line of Control (LoC) skirmishes that have threatened to suspend the peace process between the two nuclear neighbours.
“The meeting has to take place but there is uncertainty on both the sides. We are trying to sort this out. It would be unfortunate if this meeting falls to the LoC firing,” a senior government official told this newspaper here.
“We are committed to the meeting but the India PM may be getting some second advice,” he added.
After the LoC episode, a war of words ensued which has threatened the peace process.
Pakistan and India have fought three major wars since Independence.
If everything is finalised, the two leaders will meet on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) six-day summit that will commence on September 24 with the address by US President Barack Obama.
Mr Sharif will reach New York on September 23 and stay at the UN headquarters for four days.
It is unlikely that he will have a bilateral meeting with the US President in the trip for the world body headquarters.
They will rub shoulders in the reception to be hosted by the US President traditionally at a Manhattan hotel on the day of commencement of the UNGA.
The meeting consisting of the assembly’s general debate, foreign ministers, diplomats and world leaders of the 192 members of the United Nations will gather to discuss a wide range of issues in national and international affairs.
It is understood that more than 60 heads of states and governments will turn up at the UN headquarters for attending the summit and number of the heads of delegation would like to have a meeting with new leader of Pakistan on the brinks of the UN Summit.