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India-Pak agree on 13-point agenda
September 08, 2004 17:46 IST
Carrying forward the composite dialogue process, India and Pakistan today agreed on 13 proposals including expert level meetings on conventional and nuclear Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) and decided to continue dialogue to find a peaceful negotiated settlement of all bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir. The two sides agreed to have a meeting on "all issues" relating to the commencement of bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, said a joint statement issued at the end of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri's five day visit to New Delhi.
Giving details of the statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said on Siachen, the two countries agreed that the outcome of the meeting of Defence Secretaries in August this year would be implemented.
New Delhi and Islamabad had on August six agreed to discuss modalities for "disengagement and redeployment" of troops in Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, and hold further discussions on them. Defence Secretaries are expected to meet again on the Siachen issue.
According to the statement, the two side agreed on the following:
(a) Expert level meetings on Conventional and Nuclear CBMs, inter alia, to discuss the draft agreement on advance notification of missile tests;
(b) Meeting between railway authorities on the Munnabao - Khokhrapar rail link;
(c) Biannual meeting between Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers in October 2004;
(d) Meeting between Narcotics Control Authorities, including for finalisation of an MOU in October/ November 2004;
(e) Meeting between the Indian Coast Guards and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency in November 2004 to, inter alia, discuss the Memorandum of Understanding for establishing communication link between them;
(f) Establishment of Committee of Experts to consider issues related to trade;
(g) On Siachen, the outcome of the August 2004 meeting of Defence Secretaries would be implemented;
(h) Joint Survey of the boundary pillars in the horizontal segment (blue dotted line) of the international boundary in the Sir Creek area;
(i) Meeting on all issues related to commencement of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad;
(j) Add a new category of Tourist Visa in the visa regime between the two countries, and to promote group tourism;
(k) Set up a mechanism to deal with the issue of civilian prisoners and fishermen, effectively and speedily;
(l) Further measures for facilitation of visits to religious shrines, and upkeep of historical sites;
(m) Enhanced interaction and exchanges among the respective Foreign Offices, including study tours of young diplomats/probationers to each other's country.
Natwar Singh had also accepted Kasuri's invitation to visit Pakistan and the dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels, the statement said.