The Hindu : India, Pakistan outline road map for dialogue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 19, 2004

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India, Pakistan outline road map for dialogue

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 18. India and Pakistan have agreed on a road map to carry forward the composite dialogue to resolve all their differences. It will begin at the Foreign Secretaries level in May/June when confidence building measures (CBMs) on peace and security and Jammu and Kashmir will be discussed.

The road map has been sketched keeping in mind the general elections expected in April/May and will cover all the eight subjects identified in the 1998 format for a composite dialogue. The first round is to culminate in a summit of the two Foreign Ministers some time in August to review the progress. A preparatory meeting of the Foreign Secretaries will precede it.

The two sides have also agreed to hold experts- level talks on nuclear CBMs in the latter half of May as agreed in the Lahore Declaration of February 1999. This is the first time the Musharraf Government has incorporated in its official policy any element of the Lahore Declaration, which Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, has criticised for having only a `passing' reference to Kashmir. On nuclear CBMs, the Lahore declaration had said respective governments "shall take immediate steps for reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons and discuss concept and doctrines with a view to elaborating measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields, aimed at prevention of conflict."

The Foreign Secretary, Shashank, told Indian correspondents after his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Riaz Khokar, that some ideas about the composition of the group of experts were discussed. While maintaining that the composition of the groups would give a fair idea of what both sides wanted, Mr. Shashank declined to go into details.

The Pakistan Foreign Secretary told a news conference that "the modalities and the timeframe for discussions on all subjects of the agenda for the Composite Dialogue" were discussed and "both sides agreed that they would approach the composite dialogue with the sincere desire to discuss and arrive at a peaceful settlement of bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both sides."

The two Foreign Secretaries met to consider the agenda on a composite dialogue finalised by the Joint Secretary-level parleys in the last two days in pursuance of the decision taken after a meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Gen. Musharraf in Islamabad on January 6, 2004.

Reading out from a joint statement, Mr. Khokar said both countries were committed to promoting progress "towards a common objective of peace, security and economic development for their peoples and for future generations." Echoing the sentiments, Mr. Shashank said the dialogue should help in promotion of peace and development in the region.

He stressed that to facilitate the peace process it was necessary, as spelt out in the January 6 joint statement, to "remove atmosphere of violence, hatred and terrorism."

Under the programme finalised today, the Foreign Secretaries will meet in May-June for talks on peace and security, including confidence building measures, and Jammu and Kashmir. Talks on Siachen, the Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Sir Creek, Terrorism and Drug Trafficking, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, and Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in various fields will be held at the already agreed levels in July. Secretaries or senior officials of Ministries/Departments concerned would take part in meetings on these subjects. Besides, technical level meetings at the level of Director-General of the Pakistan Rangers and Inspector-General of the Border Security Force will be held in March-April. There will be an expert level talks on nuclear CBMs in the latter half of May. The Committee on Drug Trafficking and Smuggling will meet in June.

Mr. Khokar said today's meeting reviewed the existing links between the Directors-General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan and "agreed to consider further strengthening of these contacts."

To a question whether there was any proposal for a summit level meeting, he said "this will be for the two Foreign Ministers to decide." They will have an opportunity to meet on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ministerial council meeting here in July.

Mr. Khokar said "there is realisation on both sides that war is not an option. That itself is a very constructive conclusion. Therefore, we will explore every possibility for durable peace, security and resolution of all issues. We hope that this roadmap will lead to the settlement of all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan and contribute to global peace."

To a question on the fencing of the Line of Control (LoC) by India, Mr. Khokhar said, "it is certainly not a helpful thing," though the Indian side has maintained that the fencing work was being carried out well inside their territory. "The subject will come up in future discussions," Mr. Khokar said.

On the proposed launch of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said the two sides had agreed for technical level talks on March 29 and 30. "The question of modalities will be discussed at the technical level."

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