NEW DELHI, May 26: India and Pakistan on Friday agreed to conduct a joint survey of the disputed Sir Creek region, seen as a breakthrough in an otherwise lean patch for their peace process. Their talks on the demilitarisation of the Siachen Glacier had ended in a stalemate earlier this week.

According to a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day talks, the survey will be conducted soon and modalities will be worked out by technical experts of the two countries.

The Indian delegation was led by Maj-Gen M. Gopal Rao, surveyor-general of India. Pakistan’s delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Ahsanul Haq Chaudhri, additional secretary, ministry of defence.

The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere in which the two sides discussed the “delineation of India and Pakistan boundary in the Sir Creek area and delimitation of India-Pakistan maritime boundary.”

A joint statement issued after the talks said that “both sides agreed on the early settlement of the land boundary in Sir Creek area and the maritime boundary and to conduct a joint survey of the Sir Creek and adjoining areas and waters between November 2006 and March 2007.”

It was decided that technical experts of the two sides would meet in Pakistan in August 2006 to work out the extent and modalities for the joint survey. The hydrographers of the two countries, in the same meeting, would discuss modalities and propose options for delimitation of the maritime boundary.