The first confirmation of the brief conversation between Modi and Imran came from Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The Indian side also confirmed that the two leaders came face to face at the leaders' lounge where the two leaders "exchanged casual pleasantries". Prime Ministers of the two countries had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the SCO summit

The Indian side also confirmed that the two leaders exchanged casual pleasantries. Sources in India vehemently rejected any idea of this occasion being termed as a meeting

Despite the strain in ties between India and Pakistan, Prime Ministers of the two countries had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The first confirmation of the brief conversation between Modi and Imran came from Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Speaking to media before leaving for Islamabad he said the two leaders "exchanged pleasantries and shook hands. This was not a structured dialogue."

The Indian side also confirmed that the two leaders came face to face at the leaders' lounge where the two leaders "exchanged casual pleasantries".

This comes at a time when India has maintained that "talks and terror cannot go together". Sources in India vehemently rejected any idea of this occasion being termed as a "meeting".

Indian govt sources were quick to explain that no meeting took place. "No meeting took place. No pull aside. Only exchange of usual pleasantries in the Leaders' Lounge where other leaders were also present. Request not to twist facts."

Speaking to Pakistani media, the Pakistani Foreign Minister also confirmed that PM Imran Khan congratulated PM Modi on his resounding electoral victory.

While this certainly is not a thaw, it is being seen as following diplomatic norms at a multilateral forum where India did not want to vitiate the atmosphere.

An India Today report filed on June 9 stated while a bilateral meeting will not take place, spontaneous talks cannot be ruled out..

The real substance where India and Pakistan stand today was visible at the plenary session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State summit where Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked tough on terror. Without naming Pakistan he cornered them on the issue of state sponsorship of terrorism.

"It is necessary for the countries that provide encouragement, support and finance to terrorism to be responsible. SCO members should use the full potential of cooperation under SCO-RATS to eliminate terrorism. India calls for an international level conference to deal with terrorism", the PM said during his intervention.

In his inimitable style, he came up with yet another acronym for SCO goals, calling it HEALTH where 'T' stood for "terrorism free society".

(H for Healthcare Cooperation, E for Economic Cooperation, A for Alternate Energy, L for Literature and Culture, T for Terrorism free society, H for Humanitarian Cooperation)

India's idea of combating terrorism and the root cause of the menace reflected in 'Bishkek Declaration', the joint document on the outcome of the summit, which mentions "cross-border terrorism".

"The Member States believe that increasing challenges and security threats are becoming cross-border in their nature such as terrorism, the spread of terrorist and extremist ideology...", the joint declaration read.

While unlike SAARC, SCO is not being held hostage to the difficulties in ties between India and Pakistan, one will have to wait and watch what happens when India or Pakistan are the hosts of this summit level meeting. Will there be a boycott of the regional bloc if things remain unchanged with Pakistan?