|
|
|
| 27 June 2004 | Sunday | 08 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Khokhar in Delhi for talks
NEW DELHI, June 26: India and Pakistan said on Saturday they were approaching foreign secretary-level talks with sincerity, with both sides saying they were coming with concrete ideas to take the peace process forward.
"There is greater hope today. There is an element of statesmanship guiding us on both sides," said a Pakistani official. "We have come with good proposals to take the process forward with a view to resolving all our differences."
A senior Indian official said New Delhi was looking forward to the talks between Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar and Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank with a positive mind.
"We have several proposals, both to boost the confidence- building measures and for our discussions on Kashmir, which should take the dialogue forward purposefully."
Mr Shyam Saran, who will take over as India's new foreign secretary from July 1, received Mr Khokhar at New Delhi airport.
Talking to journalists at a reception held by Pakistan's High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan, Mr Khokhar said his side would discuss with Indian officials the "fundamental issue" of Jammu and Kashmir and other matters with "great sincerity and seriousness".
"We have very important business to do. We certainly will approach these talks with great sincerity and seriousness and hope we will be able to do some solid business," Mr. Khokhar said.
Some reports said India may propose "radical military and non-military CBMs" to Pakistan to give an impetus to the composite dialogue process.
Indian Foreign Secretary Mr Shashank will lead the Indian delegation at the talks. He will be assisted by Foreign Secretary designate Shyam Saran, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sivshankar Menon, Mr Arun K. Singh, Joint Secretary (Pakistan) in the External Affairs Ministry and other officials of the ministry.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, will have Pakistan High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan, Mr Jaleel Abbas Jilani, Director-General of the South Asia Division in the Foreign Ministry, and Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan, among others, in his delegation.
The first day of the talks would be devoted to reviewing the progress made in the bilateral process so far and the issue of peace and security while the two Foreign Secretaries would deal exclusively with the Jammu and Kashmir issue on the second day.
The Pakistan delegation is due to meet both factions of Kashmir's All-Parties Hurriyat Conference.
Our staff reporter adds from Lahore: "I'm basically going to kickstart a composite dialogue between Pakistan and India that is resuming after five years," Mr Khokhar told journalists at Lahore airport before leaving for New Delhi.
He said that the talks would concentrate on two issues including CBMs for peace and security and Jammu and Kashmir.
"We're aware of their (Indian) position and we know our stand on the issue. We will try to find a way out (for the settlement of the main dispute between India and Pakistan)."
Moreover, he said, the ensuing round of talks would also draw up a "schedule of other meetings of senior officials" between now and August.
"At least six rounds of such talks would take place before the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan meet (in August)," stated Mr Khokhar.
"We have to work hard to lay the ground (for ministerial-level talks between the two neighbouring countries)," he said.
|
|
|
|