The optics of S Jaishankar agreeing to visit Pakistan amid tensions with Canada and shaking of hands and a brief conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated the opening of a window of opportunity for further engagement.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise trip to Lahore in December 2015, Sharif said he was not happy with the ”long-pause” in the ties between the two countries and hoped that both sides should look ahead with a positive approach.

The visit of India's foreign minister to Pakistan earlier this week was a "good beginning" that could lead to a thaw in relations between the two rivals, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was quoted as saying by Indian media on Friday.

Nawaz Sharif, who doesn’t hold any position in the Pakistan government, talked to Indian journalists and urged both sides to ‘now move forward’.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for renewed efforts to mend ties with India. He described External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting as a “good opening” and an opportunity for both nations to move beyond their troubled history.

Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan, said he was not pleased by the ‘long pause’ in the relationship between the two countries.

During EAM S Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit, former PM Nawaz Sharif expressed hopes for improved relations and a future visit from PM Modi. Casual talks occurred, but no significant thaw in relations was noted,