Kashmir bus service to start from April: •Travel across LoC by permit •India ready to look at gas project and open Khokhrapar rail link •Agreement on Lahore-Amritsar route
By Qudssia Akhlaque
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Pakistan and India on Wednesday decided to start the long-awaited Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service from April and also agreed to launch a service between Lahore and Amritsar.
The agreement was reached at a 90-minute meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh.
The five-liner announcement about the Kashmir bus link, read out by Mr Kasuri at a joint news conference, said: "Both the governments have agreed to allow travel across the LoC between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad by bus. Travel will be by an entry permit system, once identities are verified."
"Application forms for travel will be available with designated authorities in Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. The bus service is expected to commence from April, 2005," it added. (According to news agencies, the two ministers said that the service was likely to start on April 7)
Mr Singh looked on as Mr Kasuri read out the joint statement to a large number of media representatives at the foreign ministry. Later, the two ministers read out their separate statements. The reason for which was Mr Singh's insistence on giving his own version, it is learnt.
Mr Singh, in his statement, termed his discussions with Mr Kasuri 'extremely useful and intensive' and declared: "My visit has reinforced in me the determination to continue working for expanding cooperation and understanding between our two countries. The people of both our countries clearly desire it."
He mentioned other significant steps agreed upon at the talks, including India's readiness to look at a gas pipeline through Pakistan, the finalisation of agreements between now and July on pre-notification of missile tests, an MoU between India's Coast Guards and Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency, and an MoU between the narcotics control authorities of the two countries.
Mr Singh said the two sides had instructed their officials to immediately tie up technical details for starting a bus service between Amritsar and Lahore and also to agreed religious places such as Nankana Sahib.
"I also conveyed to my counterpart our readiness to start the Khokhrapar-Munabao rail link from October 2005, and requested Pakistan to expedite their own preparations," he said.
He said the two sides were continuing with efforts for an early re-opening of their consulates-general in Karachi and Mumbai. Mr Singh said both sides had decided to initiate discussions for an agreement on reducing risks of nuclear accidents or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons and preventing incidents at sea.
He said they had also agreed to consider measures to alleviate the situation of civilian prisoners and detained fishermen. Noting that the two countries had come a long way over the past one year or so, the Indian minister asserted: "I am convinced that cooperation between our two countries is not just a desirable objective; it is an imperative."
Acknowledging the differences between the two countries, he said it was normal given the history and complexity of their relationship. "However, as leaders, it is incumbent upon us to find ways through which we can enhance trust and cooperation so that differences can be addressed more productively," he emphasised.
Both sides, he said, were looking forward to the first meeting of the Joint Study Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation at the commerce secretary-level on Feb 22-23. Mr Singh said that during his meetings with President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz he had conveyed to them greetings and good wishes of the Indian premier.
He concluded his statement with a veiled reference to the alleged cross-border infiltration and a reminder to Pakistan of its pledge not to allow its territory to be used by terrorists.
"Of course, the process can be sustained only in an atmosphere free from terrorism and violence, in the framework of implementation of commitment made on January 6, 2004."
Mr Kasuri in his statement said: "The two sides have agreed to continue the composite dialogue process in positive spirit and for constructive results in addressing all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, peace and security, conventional and nuclear CBMs, trade, and people-to-people contacts."
He said that on the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir the Pakistani side had impressed upon the Indian government for an early and final settlement of the dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
He said the Siachen issue had been discussed and it was agreed that defence secretaries of the two countries would be directed to take up the issue in a 'friendly and cooperative' manner.
"Pakistan expressed the hope that both the countries will be able to move forward to promote strategic stability in South Asia," he said. Referring to discussion over the Baglihar and Kishanganga projects, Mr Kasuri said he had impressed upon his Indian counterpart for an early resolution of the issues in accordance with the Indus Water Treaty.
He said India had agreed to lease a government-owned building and a piece of land in Mumbai for the reopening of Pakistan's consulate. He welcomed India's decision to treat the gas pipeline plan as a 'stand-alone' project and hoped for the early finalisation of an agreement on the matter.
Mr Kasuri said that Prime Minister Aziz had already directed the railway authorities to expedite the operationalisation of the Khokhrapar-Munabao link. The two sides, he said, had agreed to work together for an early convening of the 13th Saarc summit and added that the president and the prime minister of Pakistan had renewed invitation to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
Both the foreign ministers left abruptly after reading out their statements. "Ladies and gentlemen I have no desire to be abrupt or rude. It's not my way, all of you know us.
We have agreed in the interest of carrying forward the process in some ways initiated today hopefully of greater harmony not to have a question and answer today," Mr Kasuri announced.
"We are not running away. We are available to the press, we are politicians," he said as reporters protested. When he was intercepted by journalists, he said: "Sometimes when questions are asked you take the focus away from the main issues and sometimes trivial issue assume gigantic dimensions."
Apologising to journalists, he said: "Because we wish to send a positive message to the people of South Asia I hope you will bear with us today. Please understand the spirit in which this is being done, there is no attempt to hide anything." Dawn learnt that Mr Singh was initially reluctant to have a joint press conference and said he would be willing only if there was no question-answer session.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Pakistan and India on Wednesday decided to start the long-awaited Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service from April and also agreed to launch a service between Lahore and Amritsar.
