India,Pak FS talks conclude,Kargil-Skardu bus route to open

Islamabad, Mar 14 (UNI) India and Pakistan have resolved to sustain the peace process for settlement of all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed in principle to open the Kargil-Skardu bus route and start a truck service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

At the two-day Foreign Secretary-level talks which concluded here today, the two countries also agreed to sign six agreements during the fourth round of the Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) for enhancing peace and security.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammed Khan, who met here for launching the Fourth Round of the CDP, also decided to conclude a bilateral agreement for visa relaxation, Agreement on Consular Access and revise the Protocol on Vists to Religious Places.

An official statement issued here after the conclusion of the talks said the major decisions taken at the two-day meeting include: --Expediting negotiations to conclude an Agreement on Prevention of Incidents at Sea.

--Fully observe the ceasefire.

--Conclude and sign an Agreement on Modalities for the Conduct of Quarterly Flag meetings at the Sectors to be agreed upon.

--Conclude and sign a Framework Agreement on Speedy Return of Inadvertent Line Crossers.

--Conclude an agreement on No Development of New Posts and Defence Works along the Line Of Control (LoC) --Proposed drafts for new border control guidelines along the International Border.

On Nuclear CBMs, the two countries agreed to hold discussions on security doctrines while on the issues of Jammu and Kashmir, it was decided to ensure implementation of the already agreed Jammu and Kashmir-related CBMs, operationalisation of truck service and operationalisation/rationalisation of the five crossing points.

On Siachen issue, the two Foreign Secretaries agreed that Defence Secretaries of the two countries, assisted by respective Directors General (Military Operations), would hold talks.

For enhancing people-to-people contacts, the two countries agreed to conclude during the Fourth round a bilateral Visa Agreement, Agreement on Consular Access and revise the Protocol on Visits to Religious Places.

The Committee on Prisoners comprising four retired judges from each side would work for ensuring humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners on both sides.

India recently named four senior judges as members who would constitute the Committee.

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