OTTAWA, 15 June — Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar will hold talks with his Canadian counterpart John Manley here today with diplomatic sources describing their meeting as the first step toward normalization of their relations.

Pakistani diplomats here are also hoping that Sattar-Manley talks will help “develop better understanding between the two countries.” Consul General Iftikhar Ahmed Arain said here yesterday that after having talks with Manley, Sattar will proceed to Washington tomorrow. It will be the first visit to Canada by a Pakistani minister since Islamabad conducted nuclear tests in May 1998 that prompted Ottawa to impose economic sanctions against Pakistan. Sattar is expected to explain the situation that compelled Islamabad to carry out detonations. Pakistan says it had to detonate the nuclear devices to restore strategic balance in the region.

Several newspapers in Canada have carried reports about Sattar’s visit to this part of the world. “A visit here by Pakistan’s foreign minister has signaled a return to normal relations between Ottawa and Islamabad,” wrote Canada’s most influential daily newspaper The Toronto Star.