NEW DELHI: Delegations of Pakistan and India this afternoon [May 15] opened their talks with the determination to carry forward the process of normalisation of relations between the two countries. An agreed statement, read out to waiting newsmen, said this would be done in a “spirit of mutual accommodation and goodwill”. The delegations, led by their respective Foreign Secretaries, met some ten hours after the arrival of the Pakistan delegation … for talks … on the resumption of overflights and restoration of air links. …

The statement … said: “The two Foreign Secretaries, recalling the commitments of their Prime Ministers to the Simla agreement, expressed satisfaction at the progress made since their last meeting in September, 1974. …” The [Indian] spokesman said the talks … were held in a cordial atmosphere.

... After preliminary discussions … both sides agreed to pick up the thread of previous discussions. … …Reports in this morning’s Indian papers generally expressed the hope that an agreement would be reached on resumption of overflights. On arrival here, the Pakistan delegation leader, Mr. Agha Shahi … [said]: “I should like to say that we have come … in a spirit of goodwill.”

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2025