ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan on Thursday agreed to continue the composite dialogue in the same format and revive the `Joint Commission' to be headed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries to give a new impetus to bilateral ties.

On the opening day of their meeting Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan were unanimous on the `integrity' of the composite dialogue and decided to commence the third round under the format in December this year.

Sharing details of the deliberations at a news conference, Mr. Saran said they have also agreed on the text of the pre-notification of missile tests agreement, reached in New Delhi last month. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries would initial it when they meet here from October 3 to 5.

Though it was decided to reactivate the Joint Commission, originally conceived in 1988, there was some ambiguity on its jurisdiction. While the Indian side referred to as Joint Commission on the lines of the 1988 body, Riaz Mohammad Khan chose to describe it as Joint Economic Commission.

In response to a question on the characterisation of the Commission by the Pakistani side, Mr. Saran told journalists not to read too much into it. "The Joint Commission is being revived in the form it existed before. As to the mandate we have suggested that the first revived Commission meeting be held when the Foreign Ministers are here in October," the Foreign Secretary said.

The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in 1989. At that time, it had four sub-commissions. "We will have to see what kind of format it should have," his Pakistani counterpart said, adding dates for its first meeting to be held at the Foreign Ministers' level were being worked out. He said the meeting would discuss what should be the mandate of the Commission, its structure and objectives.

Describing his meeting with Mr. Khan as `productive' the Foreign Secretary said that they have set the stage for a `very productive' interaction between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 14.

Mr. Saran said the meeting also deliberated on the possibility of increasing the fortnightly Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service besides two additional bus routes connecting people on both sides of Kashmir. These routes are Punj-Rawalkot and Kargil and Skardu.

The Foreign Secretary said soon technical level talks would be held with Pakistan for operationalisation of the Amritsar-Lahore bus service. Two additional buses connecting Amritsar-Nankana Sahib and Lahore and Sarhind (Punjab) were considered.

On the subject of prisoners in each other's country. Mr. Saran said both sides have agreed to put in place a mechanism for intimation about arrest of each other's citizens to enable the countries seek consular access and facilitate their early release.

Mr. Saran, who also called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, said that India was determined to resolve all outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir within the parameters laid down by Dr. Singh.

He said the solution would have to be without re-drawing of boundaries or any territorial concessions.

At the same he reiterated concern of India over continued attempts at cross-border infiltration and said dialogue could succeed only in an atmosphere free of violence and terrorism.

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