ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: Indo-Pakistan talks on nuclear and conventional confidence-building measures (CBMs) ended here on Tuesday without any tangible outcome despite exhaustive negotiations on formalizing an agreement on pre-notification of missile flight-testing.
Although both sides worked hard on the text of the draft agreement, it could not be finalized due to some technical glitches, it is learnt. "Due to varying interpretations of the scope and technical parameters involved, the two delegations decided to reflect further and consult their respective systems," sources told Dawn.
The agreement could not be firmed up due to sharp differences over the technical parameters and data that should be incorporated, and on the type of missile tests to which it would be applicable, they added.
Apparently India wanted the agreement to be confined only to ballistic surface-to-surface missiles but Pakistan maintained that it should extend to all types. It appears that cruise missiles could have been one of the issues and also India's call for more data that stalled progress on the accord.
A joint statement issued after the two-day talks said the date and venue of the next expert-level meeting on nuclear CBMs would be decided by the foreign secretaries, who are scheduled to meet on Dec 27-28. It said the two sides would report the progress made in the present round of talks to the foreign secretaries.
The one-page statement said: "The two sides held discussions in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, in the framework of the Lahore MoU of 1999 and the Joint Statement of June 20, 2004.
Both sides reiterated their desire to keep working towards elaboration and implementation of Nuclear CBMs, within the agreed framework. "Both sides agreed that future periodic expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs would discuss, review and monitor the implementation of nuclear CBMs as called for by the Lahore MoU of 1999."
According to the statement, detailed consultations were held on the early operationalization of the decisions taken during the last round of expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs held in New Delhi on June 19-20, 2004, especially on the up gradation of the existing hotline between the DGMOs, and the establishment of a dedicated and secure hotline between the two foreign secretaries.
The Pakistan delegation was led by Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN&EC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indian side was headed by Meera Shankar, Additional Secretary (International Organizations), Ministry of External Affairs.
Although Pakistan and India have already in place an informal system of advance notification of missile tests, defence experts say a formal agreement would serve as a useful CBM, particularly in the context of volatile Indo-Pakistan relations.
So far, the only nuclear-related accord between Pakistan and India is the bilateral agreement on 'Prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities' that was signed in December 1988.
CONVENTIONAL CBMs: Pakistan and India in their first round of expert-level talks on conventional CBMs here on Wednesday exchanged views on various proposals, including a no war pact and institutional linkages between the armed forces, it is learnt.
Pakistan proposed a 'no war pact' and 'no aggression pact' in response to Indian proposal of a bilateral agreement on 'peace and tranquillity' along the Line of Control (LoC), informed sources told Dawn.
While the Indian side apparently was more keen on LoC-specific measures, the emphasis of the Pakistani delegation remained on the broader security concerns and threat perceptions.
During the two-hour meeting, Pakistan also stressed on conventional balance and conflict resolution. The assertion of the Pakistani delegation was that India's present force level and its orientation was far beyond its legitimate defence requirement.
The Pakistani delegation also conveyed its concern about India's massive acquisition of Pakistan-specific weapons. It is learnt that the Indian side also proposed institutional linkages between armed forces and expansion of hotlines to other forces. However, Pakistan's view was that proliferation of hotlines was not such a good idea and could create confusion.
India reiterated its proposal of exchange visits of naval ships which Pakistan saw as premature, the sources said, adding that Pakistan's position was that the two countries needed to first improve the confidence level.
In this context, the threshold of security and intent to resolve issues was also underlined. The Pakistani delegation also handed over to the Indian delegation a concept paper on nuclear and missile restraint. However, India sees the concept as unrealistic.
A three-para joint statement issued after the meeting said: "The two sides held discussions on the significance of and overall approaches to conventional CBMs, and exchanged views on various proposals."
The results of the discussions will be reported to the respective foreign secretaries, it concluded. Apparently India was not too keen on holding talks on the conventional CBMs and it was on Pakistan's insistence that it agreed.
The preliminary talks were aimed at evolving a framework for some progress on CBMs in the conventional field. However, signals from the Indian side are that it is not inclined towards a meaningful engagement in this particular area because it wants to maintain its clear edge over Pakistan in the conventional field.
The Indian side was led by Arun Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, and the Pakistani side was led by Additional Secretary Tariq Osman Hyder. Deputy High Commissioner to India Munawwar Bhatti was also here to participate in the talks.
SIR CREEK: Meanwhile, on Sir Creek issue, India and Pakistan made headway at the talks in Rawalpindi on Tuesday with an agreement to conduct a joint survey of the boundary pillars in the horizontal segment in the Sir Creek area.
"After detailed technical discussions, the two sides agreed that the joint survey would commence from Jan 3, 2005," said a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the two-day talks. "A joint report would then be submitted to the respective governments," it added.
The Pakistan delegation was led by Surveyor-General of Pakistan Maj-Gen Jamilur Rehman Afridi, while the Indian delegation was led by Brig Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor-General of India.
The talks on Sir Creek were held in pursuance of understanding reached during foreign minister-level meeting in New Delhi on Sept 5-6 about a meeting between Pakistani and Indian delegations to discuss modalities for carrying out a joint survey of the boundary pillars in the horizontal segment (blue dotted line) in the Sir Creek area.
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