IDSA

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) The New Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and the Institute of Strategic Studies of Islamabad here today signed a bilateral institutional cooperation agreement for an initial period of five years.

This collaborative arrangement is considered an important Confidence Building Measure between India and Pakistan. India had proposed establishment of bilateral ties between leading strategic think tanks from both the countries in September 2004.

In fact, one of the 72 proposals listed by India then had mentioned these two institutes as the most important ones which could engage in dialogue at a non-official level and contribute to the peace process.

IDSA Director General NS Sisodia and Dr Shireen Mazari, Director General off ISS, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutes during the tenth Asian Security Conference which commenced here today.

The salient features of the MoU signed between the two institutes are to establish direct academic and scholarly ties; exchange of ideas on issues of common concern; and conduct of scholarly conferences, seminars and round-tables.

UNI DG RL DS1442