ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: Senior officials of Pakistan, India and two Kashmirs will meet here on Saturday to discuss the opening of the Line of Control to facilitate two-way movement of Kashmiris across the divide.

Officials here say it is “a very important meeting” prompted by President General Pervez Musharraf’s announcement on Oct 18 that Pakistan is ready to open the LoC to allow Kashmiris from the other side to come and join their relatives in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

In a formal proposal made to India on Oct 22, Pakistan suggested opening up of five crossing points along the LoC. India, however, made a counter-proposal of establishing three meeting points.

During the day-long meeting both sides will thrash out modalities of the proposals that have apparently already been discussed in detail. On the eve of the crucial talks officials sounded hopeful of some forward movement and an agreement on letting Kashmiris move both ways ‘from at least a couple of points’.

A joint statement will be issued at the end of the talks on Saturday, it is learnt.

A six-member Indian delegation headed by Dilip Sinha, joint secretary (Pakistan) at the ministry of external affairs, arrived here on Friday night. Other members of the delegation are senior officials of the ministries of home affairs and defence and commissioner Indian held Kashmir Diwan Pervez.

Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shankar Menon, deputy high commissioner and defence adviser will also attend the meeting.

Ibne Abbas, director-general South Asia division at the ministry of foreign affairs, will lead Pakistan delegation which includes representatives of the ministries of interior, defence and Kashmir affairs and Northern Areas.