Modi will not meet Nawaz in US

New Delhi: There is a lot of buzz going on around that Modi will be meeting Nawaz Sharif in his Tour of United States. But it is confirmed that there are no plans for a meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The external affairs Ministry (MEA) made this clear on Tuesday, but added, in response to a question, that whether a “chance meeting” will take place or not is that it not our place to speculate on this matter.

Nevertheless, Mr Modi will follow the “neighbours-first policy” and meet the Sri Lankan President and Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Nepal dr from September 26 to 30 where he will have as many as “35 engagements” in this short span.

After the UNGA, where he will address issues of the need for the expansion of the UN Security Council to include India, Mr Modi will travel to Washington, where he will meet President Barack Obama on September 29 and 30, apart from the vice-president, defence secretary and secretary of state. The Prime Minister will also attend a private dinner hosted by Mr Obama in his honour on September 29.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet former president Bill Clinton, there will be no meeting with former President George W. Bush, in whose tenure Mr Modi, at that time Gujarat chief minister was denied a US visa.