Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hands with Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaz Aziz at Pakistan's foreign ministry in Islamabad on December 9, 2015, ahead of talks./ Source from AFP, Yonhap News

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By Ha Man-joo, India correspondent, AsiaToday - There is a thaw in tensions between India and Pakistan. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj held bilateral talks with Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaz Aziz at Pakistan's foreign ministry in Islamabad on December 9. After the meeting both sides agreed to have comprehensive bilateral dialogue. The issues that will be discussed include counter-terrorism, peace and security, territorial disputes, economic and commercial cooperation, narcotics control, humanitarian issues, and religious tourism, according to a joint statement issued by both sides.

In addition, Minister Sushma Swaraj said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pakistan next year for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.

India's Foreign Minister visited Pakistan for the Heart of Asia international conference held to support Afghanistan's peace policy and reconstruction.

Indian media outlets said that such movement shows there is hope for ties between India and Pakistan. India-Pakistan relations had been stuck in hostility since Mumbai attacks killed 116 people in 2008. The Indian government said the attacks were planned from Pakistan and requested for elimination of terrorist group but failed to get Pakistan's cooperation.

The two countries have been seeking to improve their relations. India PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met in Paris on November 30 at the UN climate change conference center's lobby, in what was seen as a "pull-aside meeting" between the two leaders.

Experts say the beginning of a thaw in India-Pakistan relations came from Pakistan's clear stance on terrorism which began to gain India's trust.