By Muhammad Naeem Chaudhry
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 (APP): Pakistan and India on Wednesday agreed to continue the sustained dialogue in a purposeful and forward looking manner to find a peaceful and negotiated final settlement of Kashmir issue.
The Joint Statement, simultaneously issued at the press conferences separately addressed by the Foreign Secretaries of the India and Pakistan at the conclusion of two day-talks and launch of third round of Composite Dialogue, said they assessed development in bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the progress made during the Composite Dialogue Process.
Earlier Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan called on Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh after the talks. He also called on Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed Tuesday.
The two Foreign Secretaries had a detailed exchange of views on Jammu and Kashmir, the Statement said adding, they noted with satisfaction the opening of the five crossing points across the Line of Control and hoped that the process of promoting greater interaction between the divided families would get further impetus.
The two Foreign Secretaries recalled their decisions of 2004 regarding provision of consular access to all civilian prisoners and fishermen and their repatriation on humanitarian grounds, the statement added.
Both side discussed the schedule of meetings including technical level meetings, under the Composite Dialogue framework. The Foreign Secretaries and Foreign Ministers will meet thereafter to review the third round of the Composite Dialogue.
The two sides also agreed to hold early meetings of the technical level working groups of the Joints Commission on Agriculture, Health, Science and Technology, Information, Education, IT and Telecommunication, Environment and Tourism so that they can report their progress to the Joint Commission.
On the issue of Peace and Security including CBMs, the two Foreign Secretaries reviewed and assessed positively the progress made during the meetings of experts on Nuclear and Conventional CBMs.
The two Foreign Secretaries, with the objective of promoting a stable environment of peace and security, agreed to mandate the two experts groups to continue consultations on security concepts and nuclear doctrines to develop measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields aimed at avoidance of conflict.
Under the mandate, the two experts would continue discussions with a view to finalizing an agreement on "Reducing Risk of Nuclear Accidents or Unauthorized use of Nuclear Weapons", on which a draft has been presented by India.
The two groups will conclude an agreement on prevention of incidents at sea in order to ensure safety of navigation by naval vessels, and aircraft belonging to the two sides. The Pakistani side indicated that they will present a draft of such an agreement.
They will consider elaborating, consistent with its intent, the agreement reached on No-Development of new posts and defence works along the LoC. The Indian side handed over proposed elements, said the statement.
Modalities for the conduct of already agreed monthly flag meetings between local commanders at the selected sectors. Both sides handed over suggested modalities, added the statement.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to start a bus service between Poonch and Rawalakot and truck service on Muzaafarabad-Srinagar route for trade in permitted goods as soon as the infrastructure damaged during the October 2005 earthquake is restored.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to move forward the peace process in a meaningful way during the third round. They recalled the outcome of the discussions between the President of Pakistan and Prime Minister of India reflected in the Joint Statements of January 6, 2004, September 24, 2004 and April 18, 2005.
Recalling the Joint Statement of October 4, last year, issued at the conclusion of the Meeting of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and the Minister for External Affairs of India, the two sides reiterated their resolved to carry forward the peace process and maintain its momentum.