Kathmandu: Indian and Pakistan Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif exchanged pleasantries and shook hands during the retreat at the recently concluded SAARC Summit on Thursday in Kathmandu.
Nepal Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey confirmed the news from Dhulikel where the retreat is being held.
Indian diplomats also confirmed talks between Modi and Sharif took place but dismissed rumors that the leaders were discussing bilateral issues.
“Modi and Sharif were engrossed in discussing some personal matters while they shared a table at the SAARC dinner,†a senior diplomat said.
The retreat was of five hours at a resort that gives a panoramic view of the Himalayas. The retreat is said to be an unofficial platform for the SAARC leaders to hold bilateral and multilateral talks and find solutions to unresolved disputes.
International leaders made a last ditch effort to coax the Pakistani Prime Minister to sign a regional connectivity agreement which allowed better connectivity to the SAARC nations after he initially stalled the signing Wednesday.
Sharif said Pakistan was yet to complete an internal process that would support the deal.
The Nepalese foreign minister said Wednesday that SAARC nations were working on clearing roadblocks and Nepal was working to ensure all connectivity pacts and agreements were signed before the summit ends which led to the signing of the crucial Energy pact by eight SAARC nations.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that the various heads of state were discussing issues at the sidelines.
Pakistan on Wednesday blocked three major SAARC connectivity projects initiated by India.
Modi met his Bangladeshi, Afghani, Sri Lankas and Maldivian counterparts; Sharif was not on the list.
Though no formal meeting between Modi and Sharif was on the cards, Indian diplomats have not ruled out an informal meeting between the two. However, tensions between the two leaders were evident during the summit.
During the summit, Pakistan sought to include China in SAARC which India rebuffed. India is likely to seek cooperation with all SAARC member nations separately.
At the conclusion of the current SAARC Summit, Nepalese Premier Koirala said the next summit will be held in Islamabad in Pakistan.