Pakistan, India to hold CBM talks on Oct 18, 19

Islamabad, Oct 8 (UNI) The next round of India-Pakistan talks on conventional and nuclear CBMs would take place on October 18 and 19.

''The two sides will discuss the issue of return of inadvertent line crossers and will hopefully arrive at an agreement on the issue,''Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said at the weekly news briefing in Islamabad today.

She added that the meeting would also discuss prevention of incidents on sea.

The spokesperson maintained that the meeting will review implemention of the CBMs already agreed upon during the last meeting held in April last year in Islamabad and consider new proposals, if any.

She said the second meeting of the anti-terrorism mechanism would also take place in New Delhi on 22nd of this month.

''This will provide opportunity to exchange views on how to help in investigations on either side into acts of terrorism,''she said.

She denied impressions about slowing down of the composite dialogue process due to events in the two countries.

She pointed out that the two countries have entered into the fourth round of composite dialogue, covering eight subjects and agreed upon a number of CBMs.

She, however, agreed that the progress on the Jammu and Kashmir issue was not as ''we would have liked''.

The spokesperson underscored the need to take advantage of the improved climate and move towards resolving the issues that have caused tension.

On the Siachen issue, Ms Aslam said both the countries were working on proposals.

UNI