Home Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation meet for home ministers of member nations in Pakistan on August 3 and 4, reports said. Singh is likely to have bilateral meetings with leaders from Pakistan and other SAARC countries during his visit to Islamabad. This will be the first visit by a senior Indian leader to Pakistan after the Pathankot attack, which took place on January 2.

The announcement comes after Pakistan has called for plebiscites regarding Kashmir, and criticised the Indian government for its handling of the situation in the Valley. Protests began in Jammu and Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.