ID :
13227
Mon, 07/21/2008 - 10:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/13227
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Indo-Pak Foreign Secy-level talks Monday
New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) With infiltration bids and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir recording an increase lately, India is expected to press Pakistan to take concrete action to curb flow of terrorists from its soil at the ForeignSecretary-level talks here Monday.
At the talks marking launch of fifth round of composite dialogue, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir will also discuss various cross-LoC confidence building measures (C.B.Ms.), includinglaunch of truck service and more bus services.
The main focus of the talks will be peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and C.B.Ms but other issues like prisoner release, visa relaxation, trade and commerce will also figurein the discussions.
Terrorism is expected to be the dominant theme of the talks in the backdrop of increase in infiltration attempts andterror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
India is also upset over the suicide attack at its embassy in Kabul earlier this month, which is believed to havebeen carried out by Taliban in league with Pakistan's I.S.I.
Bashir, who arrived for talks Sunday, said Pakistan wants"peaceful atmosphere on both sides".
New Delhi is keen to take forward its ties with Islamabad but insists that it is premised on three factors, including creation of an atmosphere free of violence which involvesaction by Pakistan against terrorists based in that country.
India believes that all issues that "divide" the two countries need to be resolved peacefully in an atmosphere freeof violence and terrorism.
Infiltration of militants and terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have increased lately and the Indian side would belooking at what steps Pakistan had taken to check it.
New Delhi maintains that efforts to take the peace process and dialogue process forward would be productive, depending on what Pakistan does on curbing cross-borderterrorism.
With the new democratic government in place in Islamabad, India is hopeful that Pakistan would take positivesteps on checking cross-border activity.
India is encouraged by the meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism (J.A.T.M.) held last month, particularly as it indicated the new Pakistan government's desire tocontinue to work with India in fight against the scourge.
The two sides are expected to announce some decisionwith regard to the proposal for launch of more cross-L.o.C.
bus services and some other confidence building measures.
The Indian side has proposed early operationalisation of truck service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route and launch ofKargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot bus services.
Liberalisation of the permit system used for travelacross the LoC will also be on the agenda, the sources said.
The two sides will also deliberate on liberalisation ofvisa norms to encourage more travel between the two countries.
India has already made several proposals, including packaged tours and increasing the number of pilgrim placesthat could be visited by people from the other country.
The two sides will also discuss ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation. Some progress could be expected in this area considering the new Pakistan government's willingness to take some "concrete steps" to build this aspect of the relationship. PTI
At the talks marking launch of fifth round of composite dialogue, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir will also discuss various cross-LoC confidence building measures (C.B.Ms.), includinglaunch of truck service and more bus services.
The main focus of the talks will be peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and C.B.Ms but other issues like prisoner release, visa relaxation, trade and commerce will also figurein the discussions.
Terrorism is expected to be the dominant theme of the talks in the backdrop of increase in infiltration attempts andterror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
India is also upset over the suicide attack at its embassy in Kabul earlier this month, which is believed to havebeen carried out by Taliban in league with Pakistan's I.S.I.
Bashir, who arrived for talks Sunday, said Pakistan wants"peaceful atmosphere on both sides".
New Delhi is keen to take forward its ties with Islamabad but insists that it is premised on three factors, including creation of an atmosphere free of violence which involvesaction by Pakistan against terrorists based in that country.
India believes that all issues that "divide" the two countries need to be resolved peacefully in an atmosphere freeof violence and terrorism.
Infiltration of militants and terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have increased lately and the Indian side would belooking at what steps Pakistan had taken to check it.
New Delhi maintains that efforts to take the peace process and dialogue process forward would be productive, depending on what Pakistan does on curbing cross-borderterrorism.
With the new democratic government in place in Islamabad, India is hopeful that Pakistan would take positivesteps on checking cross-border activity.
India is encouraged by the meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism (J.A.T.M.) held last month, particularly as it indicated the new Pakistan government's desire tocontinue to work with India in fight against the scourge.
The two sides are expected to announce some decisionwith regard to the proposal for launch of more cross-L.o.C.
bus services and some other confidence building measures.
The Indian side has proposed early operationalisation of truck service on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route and launch ofKargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot bus services.
Liberalisation of the permit system used for travelacross the LoC will also be on the agenda, the sources said.
The two sides will also deliberate on liberalisation ofvisa norms to encourage more travel between the two countries.
India has already made several proposals, including packaged tours and increasing the number of pilgrim placesthat could be visited by people from the other country.
The two sides will also discuss ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation. Some progress could be expected in this area considering the new Pakistan government's willingness to take some "concrete steps" to build this aspect of the relationship. PTI
