ISLAMABAD, March 13: Pakistan and India here on Tuesday commenced the fourth round of composite dialogue with focus on Jammu and Kashmir dispute and peace and security.
The Indian delegation was led by foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon while foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan headed the Pakistani side at the two-day foreign secretary-level talks.
The talks on the first day were wrapped up in just 90 minutes with no word from the Foreign Office other than that Wednesday’s session would be over by noon after which the foreign secretaries would hold a joint press conference. A joint statement is also on the cards.
Sources privy to the talks told Dawn that discussions on the opening day focused on issues of peace and security, with Pakistan tabling a new proposal related to anti-ballistic missiles. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir would be taken up on Wednesday, they said.
Other issues were Siachen and Sir Creek and economic cooperation, it is learnt. However, no details were available.
The two sides also discussed the schedule for the remaining six items of the composite dialogue.
Pakistan pushed for early finalisation of agreements on speedy return of inadvertent line crossers, quarterly flag meetings of sector commanders at the Line of Control and liberalisation of visa regime.
The Pakistani side sought early conclusion of the agreement on “prevention of incidents at sea” in order to ensure safety of navigation by naval vessels and aircraft belonging to both the countries.
Pakistan gave the draft proposal to India in April 2006.
Meanwhile, the Indian delegation called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz On Tuesday afternoon. During the 30-minute meeting, bilateral relations and peace process were discussed.
The Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project also came under discussion, with the Indian secretary noting that India looked at it as a stand-alone project, sources said.
Mr Menon later called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri who stressed that the peace dialogue should be result-oriented. During the 40-minute interaction, it was emphasised that it was time for the two countries to move beyond CBMs and focus on dispute resolution, the sources said.
The eight items included in the composite dialogue framework are: Jammu & Kashmir, peace and security, Siachen, Tulbul Navigation Project/Wullar Barrage, Sir Creek, economic and commercial cooperation and friendly exchanges, terrorism and drug-trafficking.
APP adds: Talking to reporters, Indian foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on Tuesday rejected any link between the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project and political situation in the region, particularly the Iranian nuclear issue.
“We don’t see that project (IPI) having any link with the general and political situation in the region,” Mr Menon told reporters here.
He, however, said that the project, which was being discussed for the last few years, was not in a final stage. “We still have to do a lot of detailing of the project, including its structure, cost and pricing. These details still need to be worked out.”
On the Iranian nuclear issue, Mr Menon said: “We would like to see a peacefully negotiated solution to the problem, which satisfies the international community as well as Iran.”
About the Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Menon said that foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan and he had a first round of talks and “we intend to continue the talks tomorrow (Wednesday) morning”.
Mr Menon did not take questions on the contents of discussions but said the two sides had agreed to hold a joint briefing after the talks.
