Despite tense relations between the two nations in the past, the prime ministers of Pakistan and India have met on the sidelines of the BRICS trade group and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Ufa, Russia.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani equivalent, Nawaz Sharif are to talk about a range of issues on the otherwise rare meeting. The meeting is one of the most significant steps taken by the two countries to mend their differences, which have been strained in the past, according to Fox News.

Among the most notable examples of these was covered by an HNGN report, where a Pakistani chief offered a $16 million reward for the arrest of Indian Prime Minister Modi.

The tone of the meeting in Russia, however, is a lot more positive and optimistic. Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah relates the atmosphere of the two prime ministers' gathering, reports NDTV. "It has always been (Pakistan) Prime Minister's policy to seek cordial and cooperative ties with all neighboring countries including India.

"It was in the pursuit of this objective that the Prime Minister would be meeting the Indian Prime Minister for a comprehensive exchange on all issues of common interest," he added.

The two prime ministers previously met in Kathmandu in November 2014. However, prime ministers Modi and Sharif were not able to hold a proper, formal bilateral meeting then.