Following is the text of the joint statement issued today after India, Pakistan expert level talks in Delhi on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures:

In accordance with the agreement between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan in February!2004, Expert  Level talks on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures were held in New Delhi from 19-20 June 2004. Dr Sheel Kant Sharma, Additional Secretary (IO), headed the Indian delegation and  Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN and EC) led the Pakistan side.

The visiting Pakistani delegation also called on the External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, the National Security Adviser J N Dixit and Foreign Secretary Shashank.

The talks were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.

Both sides:

Conscious of the need to promote a stable environment  of peace and security between the two countries,

Recognizing that the nuclear capabilities of each other, which are based on their national security imperatives, constitute a factor for stability,

Committed to national measures to reduce the risks of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons under their respective controls and to adopt bilateral notification measures and mechanisms to prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations,

Committed to work towards strategic stability.

The existing hotline between the DGMOs would be  upgraded, and secured.

A dedicated and secure hotline would be established  between the two Foreign Secretaries, through their respective Foreign Offices to prevent misunderstandings and reduce risks relevant to nuclear issues.

Both countries will work towards concluding an Agreement with technical parameters on pre-notification of flight testing of missiles, a draft of which was handed over by the Indian side.

Each side reaffirmed its unilateral moratorium on conducting further nuclear test explosions unless, in exercise of national sovereignty, it decides that extraordinary events have jeopardized its supreme interests.

Both countries would continue bilateral discussions and hold further meetings to work towards the implementation of the Lahore MoU of 1999.

Both countries will continue to engage in bilateral consultations on security and non-proliferation issues within the context of negotiations of these issues in multilateral fora.

Both countries called for regular working level meetings to be held among all the nuclear powers to discuss issues of common concern.

Both sides agreed to report the progress of the talks to the respective Foreign Secretaries who would meet on 27-28 June 2004.