Mukherjee may propose new CBMs during visit to Pakistan

New Delhi, May 11 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to propose new confidence-building measures (CBMs) to Pakistan during his forthcoming visit to Islamabad on May 21.

Mukherjee is to hold a review meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the fourth round of composite dialogue held last year.

A Statesman report said New Delhi would propose to increase the frequency in bus services across the Line of Control (LoC) and to make the bilateral truck service operational.

The proposals also include Kargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot bus services, as well as an increase in the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and the Poonch-Rawalkot bus services to once a week from the present fortnightly schedule.

Both sides will also assess the progress made on the issues covered under the composite dialogue process. They will also deliberate on the liberalisation of the visa regime to encourage more travel between the two countries, including packaged tours and increasing the number of pilgrimage sites that can be visited by visitors to each country.

The ministerial level talks will also be preceded by discussions between the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on May 20.

ANI