NEW DELHI, June 2: India and Pakistan on Friday agreed to enhance the number of religious places and pilgrims on both sides, as well as promote exchanges in education, media, youth and sports.

Talking to the reporters at the conclusion of two-day talks on promotion of friendly exchange under the third round of composite dialogue, Culture Secretary Jalil Abbas described the outcome of parleys as “very satisfying and encouraging”.

A joint statement, issued at the end of the talks, said: “The two sides underlined the importance of interaction in the field of culture and related areas as part of efforts to expand people-to-people contacts and agreed to work on the modalities of proposals identified by them.”

Both sides discussed various proposals for cooperation in the fields of arts and culture, education, Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, archaeology, tourism, youth affairs, sports and media, the statement added.

The talks, held in a cordial atmosphere reviewed the progress since the first round of the parleys in August 2004, the statement maintained, adding the Pakistani team also called on Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni on Friday.

Mr Abbas led the Pakistani team, while the Indian team was headed by Badal K. Das during the two-day talks.

The Pakistani team comprised High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan, representatives from ministries of foreign affairs, tourism, culture and interior and other officials of the mission.

Mr Abbas said that the two sides moved forward in the area pertaining to visa policy for group tourism under a separate category.

He said that the Indian side evinced interest in the strengthening of district government and local government reforms introduced in Pakistan.—APP