LET'S MAKE HISTORY TOGETHER: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf bids farewell on Monday at the Palam Airport, New Delhi, at the end of a three-day tour of India. - PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT

NEW DELHI: In a great leap forward, India and Pakistan underlined on Monday that the peace process between the two countries was "now irreversible." They agreed to open trade across the Line of Control by allowing trucks between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, open the trans-LoC Poonch-Rawalakot route and take steps for the meeting of divided families along the LoC.

Condemning the attempts to disrupt the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, pledged in a joint statement that they "would not allow terrorism to impede the peace process."

The statement committed the two sides to re-open their consulates in Karachi and Mumbai by the end of 2005, setting in motion the process to implement a decision taken last year. Gen. Musharraf told Pakistani presspersons here that Dr. Singh had agreed to take a positive view of handing over the Jinnah House in Mumbai to Pakistan.

Reminding Gen. Musharraf of his commitment to prevent terrorism from Pakistani territory, Monday's statement spoke of the January 6, 2004, joint press statement issued in Islamabad and the one issued on September 24, 2004, in New York.

"Conscious of the historic opportunity created by the improved environment in relations and the overwhelming desire of the peoples of the two countries for durable peace and recognising their responsibility to continue to move forward towards that objective, the two leaders had substantive talks on all issues. They determined that the peace process was now irreversible.

Kashmir issue

"In this spirit, the two leaders addressed the issue of Jammu & Kashmir and agreed to continue these discussions in a sincere and purposeful and forward-looking manner for a final settlement. They were satisfied with the discussions and expressed their determination to work together to carry forward the process and to bring the benefit of peace to their people," the statement said.

It held that the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service would be increased and trucks allowed to use this route to promote trade. Additional routes, including the old "Mughal Road" between Poonch and Rawalakot, would be operationalised.

"They also agreed to pursue further measures to enhance interaction and cooperation across the LoC including agreed meeting points for divided families, trade, pilgrimages and cultural interaction." (According to Gen. Musharraf, Dr. Singh had agreed to let Hurriyat leaders visit Pakistan).

On the issues of Sir Creek and Siachen, the two leaders "instructed" that the existing institutional mechanisms should convene discussions "immediately" with a view to finding mutually acceptable solutions to both issues "expeditiously."

It was also agreed that the Ministers of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the two countries would meet in May to "explore cooperation in this sector including on the issue of pipelines."

Committing themselves to re-establish the Khokhrapar-Munnabao "route" by January 1, 2006, the two leaders agreed that "enhanced economic and commercial cooperation would contribute to the well-being of the two countries and bring a higher level of prosperity to the region."

Dr. Singh accepted an invitation extended by Gen. Musharraf to visit Pakistan. "Mutually agreed dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels," the statement said.

``Achievements far more than expected''

Earlier, Gen. Musharraf told a gathering of Indian editors that the achievements of his visit were far more than he had expected.

Stating that the Kashmir issue could only be handled at the "leadership level," he reiterated that he was not "unifocal" in his approach.

Gen. Musharraf put a possible "settlement" of the Kashmir issue in perspective when he pointed to the parameters within which it could be discussed — India saying there could be no change in boundaries, Pakistan stressing that the LoC was not acceptable as a border and both holding that boundaries should be made irrelevant.

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