ISLAMABAD, March 22: Pakistan and India have agreed to hold defence secretary-level talks on the Siachen glacier issue on April 6-7, it is learnt. The talks, at which the defence secretaries of the two countries would be assisted by their directors-general of military operations (DGMOs), would take place in Rawalpindi, diplomatic sources said. The meeting will also be attended by officials of the two foreign ministries and other relevant departments.

The last meeting on the issue was held in May 2006.

The meeting next month assumes special significance as it would signal whether the two sides succeed in breaking ice on the issue that could pave the way for the Indian prime minister’s visit to Pakistan.

According to sources, the talks would focus on the proposals for the settlement of the conflict recently exchanged by the two sides, and on narrowing differences.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri had disclosed at a press conference on Jan 13 that “a lot of work had already been done” on the Siachen issue and stated that given the political will it could be resolved within days.

He said Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan during the talks in New Delhi in November 2006 had handed over a ‘detailed plan’ in this regard to his Indian counterpart. Mr Kasuri asserted that the ‘package’ addressed concerns of both the sides.

The Indian foreign secretary last week acknowledged that the two countries had been looking at ‘a common set of ideas’ which both sides had brought to the table. He declared: “We are hopeful.” Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan has said that “2007 is a critical year that can prove to be the watershed.”

According to defence sources, 5,000 to 6,000 Pakistani and Indian troops are deployed in Siachen. It has been peaceful in the region since a ceasefire agreement between the two countries in November 2003.

Pakistan has been pushing for an agreement on disengagement and redeployment, demilitarisation, monitoring and verification mechanisms.

However, India has been insisting on authentication of the existing positions of troops, which Pakistan opposes as it believes this would amount to endorsing the Indian aggression.