India, Pak foreign secretaries begin 2-day talks

By Staff

Published: Monday, February 14, 2011, 16:24 [IST]

Islamabad, Mar 13: Top Indian and Pakistani diplomats began two-day talks in Islamabad today focusing on key issues of Kashmir, peace and security and terrorism.

Foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Muhammad Khan are leading their respective delegations at the meeting, which will also look into the issues of visa liberalisation and ways to promote strategic restraint regime in nuclear and conventional fields.

The talks will mark commencement of the fourth round of the composite dialogue aimed at resolving all outstanding problems between the two South Asian neighbours.

The foreign secretaries will review the progress achieved during the third round of talks and work out a schedule for meetings of the remaining six groups, which deal with issues of Siachen, Sir Creek, Wuller Barrage, counter terrorism and narcotics, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts and trade.

The agenda of talks also includes further discussion and finalisation of two agreements. They include speedy return of inadvertent crossers of the Line of Control (LoC), visa relaxation regime and quarterly flag meeting of sector commanders.

The fourth round of talks is being held against the backdrop of repeated statements by leadership of the two countries expressing determination to carry forward the peace process.

The two sides are also expected to exchange views on a number of proposals including the four-point formula unveiled last year by President General Pervez Musharraf on the vexed issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

The proposal includes demilitarisation, self-governance and joint management in Kashmir.

It is important that Pakistan and India should now move from confidence building measures to dispute resolution. Pakistan foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said ahead of talks.

She said an early resolution of the issue would pave the way fordurable peace in the region and bring about greater cooperation in South Asia.

UNI