The Hindu : Front Page : Pakistan and India take a step forward

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 07, 2005

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Pakistan and India take a step forward

Sandeep Dikshit

To inform each other of missile tests

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan on Saturday agreed to notify each other of ballistic missile tests in a structured format and operationalise a hotline between the Foreign Secretaries next month to prevent "misunderstandings." Though the two countries routinely inform each other of missile tests, this is the first time they have decided to do so in a structured format.

"The proposed agreement commits both sides to pre-notify in a structured format flight testing of ballistic missiles with the objective of enhancing mutual confidence and engendering predictability and transparency of intent," said a joint statement issued at the end of the third meeting here on nuclear confidence-building measures.

The two sides agreed to upgrade the communication link between the Directors-General of Military Operations (DGMOs).

The agreed text of the proposed agreement on pre-notification of the tests would be referred to the Foreign Secretaries for formalisation, said Meera Shankar, Additional Secretary, External Affairs Ministry, who led the Indian delegation. The Pakistan team was headed by Additional Secretary in the Foreign Office Tariq Osman Hyder. The Foreign Secretaries are scheduled to meet later this year.

Ms. Shankar said the hotline between the Foreign Secretaries would supplement the existing hotline between the two DGMOs, utilised to smoothen irritants on the Line of Control. The hotline would "prevent misunderstandings and reduce risks relevant to nuclear issues. In this connection, discussions on related technical parameters were held. Details of implementation and testing schedules were exchanged,'' said the joint statement. India and Pakistan earlier decided to set up the hotline between the Foreign Offices.

Ever since the ceasefire on the LoC came into force in November 2003, the DGMOs have utilised the hotline to calm frayed tempers among frontline troops over perceived violations of ceasefire.

Under the present arrangement, the DGMOs hold a weekly conversation and get in touch in case of an untoward incident. It is expected that the two armies will decide the mechanism of upgrading the hotline. The two sides will have a second round of expert-level dialogue on conventional CBMs on Monday.

The Indian side handed over a draft of the proposed agreement for undertaking national measures to reduce the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons under their control. They agreed to report the progress made in the present round of the talks to the Foreign Secretaries, who will decide on the date and venue of the next expert-level meeting on nuclear CBMs.

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