New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Pakistan on Tuesday, union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said here on Monday.
"Tomorrow (Tuesday) Sushma Swaraj is leaving for Islamabad and will give a statement after coming back," Rudy told the media here.
"The government will brief in detail on talks in both houses (parliament) once Sushma Swaraj returns from Islamabad," he said.
Sushma Swaraj is visiting to Islamabad for a "Heart of Asia" security conference.
"External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to lead Indian delegation for 'Heart of Asia' 5th Ministerial Meeting on Afghanistan on December 9 in Islamabad," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted on Monday morning.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is likely to accompany Swaraj on her visit.
Sushma Swaraj's Pakistan visit takes place after the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan met in Thai capital Bangkok on Sunday and "agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement".
The Foreign minister's upcoming visit assumes significance as it will be the first high-level engagement between India and Pakistan since PM Narendra Modi and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif met in Ufa in July this year. Swaraj is expected to call on Sharif and his adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz on the sidelines of the conference.
Foreign Secretary Jaishankar, however, is unlikely to hold a separate meeting with his counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary during his visit. Swaraj will return to India in the evening the next day, making her visit last not more than 24 hours, the news report stated.
With Pakistan playing host to the conference, Swaraj's scheduled engagements are likely to be in the nature of courtesy meetings. As per government sources, India will continue to insist that Pakistan must acknowledge the primacy of the issue of terrorism in bilateral relations.
(With inputs from agencies)
