The Hindu : International / India & World : India, Pakistan to have regular military contacts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

International

International - India & World

India, Pakistan to have regular military contacts

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 28 . As part of conventional confidence building measures (CBMs), India and Pakistan have agreed to promote "regular contact" between their militaries at the local level at designated places.

They would also explore further CBMs along the International Boundary and Line of Control (LoC) and a host of measures to ameliorate sufferings of civilian prisoners..

A joint statement at the end of the two-day Foreign Secretary-level talks contains a clear message of commitment on both sides to carry forward the dialogue process in a bid to resolve all differences.

It noted the solemn and categoric assurance contained in the joint press statement of January 6, in the wake of meeting between the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, and the then Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, on the sidelines of SAARC and the spirit of understanding between Gen. Musharraf and the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in New York on September 24 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, who addressed a press conference after the second round of dialogue, said that the implementation of the "fundamental assurance" by Gen. Musharraf to Mr. Vajpayee that the soil of Pakistan would not allowed to be used against India for terrorism was critical to take forward the process.

At a separate press briefing Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Riaz Khokar recalled the understanding of September when India and Pakistan had agreed to explore all possible options on Kashmir and asserted that full normalisation of ties with India would only be possible only after the resolution of Kashmir.

The joint statement said that both sides moved forward in their quest for peace with narrowing differences on draft agreement on pre-notification of missile tests and an understanding to promote regular contacts along the LoC and the International Border.

`Frank talks'

It described the talks as being held in "a frank, cordial and constructive atmosphere."

The Foreign Secretaries deliberated on the issues of peace and security, including CBMs, and Jammu and Kashmir.

They also agreed to continue with the composite dialogue process and meet in New Delhi to review the overall progress in July or August 2005.

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