ID :
20489
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 09:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20489
The shortlink copeid
India, Pak to discuss cross-LoC CBMs Monday
New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) India and Pakistan will discuss Monday the modalities for launching cross-LoC trade and other confidence-building measures related to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Joint Working Group on cross-LoC CBMs, comprising
senior officials, will seek to marry ideas of the two sides in
an effort to ensure early start of new measures, official
sources said here Sunday.
Launch of commerce on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route
would be high on agenda of the discussions, they said.
India has been keen on launching the cross-LoC trade
since the proposal was first mooted in 2005 but the two
countries have failed to reach a consensus on issues like
items to be traded.
Pakistan also has been non-cooperative in enabling
Chambers of Commerce of Srinagar and Muzaffarabad to meet so
that they could discuss modalities for trade.
In fact, India had invited business delegation from
Muzaffarabad to visit Srinagar and Jammu from Monday but
without any response from the other side.
"Since they have actually engage in trade, it is
essential that the business communities of the two sides of
Kashmir meet. Without that, the exercise will be meaningless,"
an official said here.
In July, Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan had
exchanged lists of commodities with zero tariff regime and to
begin implementation, each side had agreed to indicate the
items they were willing to receive.
The officials of both the countries are also expected to
discuss launch of bus service between Kargil and Skardu in
Northern Areas under Pakistani control.
The two countries have already decided to designate the
Rawalkot Deputy Commissioner and Jammu Regional Passport
Officer as authorities responsible for issuing travel
documents for passengers travelling on the Rawalkot-Poonch
bus.
The officials are also likely to discuss introduction of
three entry points for cross-LoC travel from next month.
The measures were agreed at the talks between Foreign
Secretaries of the two countries held here.
Another issue on the agenda is facilitating crossing of
citizens on Uri-Hajipir border and to enhance the number of
persons allowed to cross to 60. PTI AKK
The Joint Working Group on cross-LoC CBMs, comprising
senior officials, will seek to marry ideas of the two sides in
an effort to ensure early start of new measures, official
sources said here Sunday.
Launch of commerce on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route
would be high on agenda of the discussions, they said.
India has been keen on launching the cross-LoC trade
since the proposal was first mooted in 2005 but the two
countries have failed to reach a consensus on issues like
items to be traded.
Pakistan also has been non-cooperative in enabling
Chambers of Commerce of Srinagar and Muzaffarabad to meet so
that they could discuss modalities for trade.
In fact, India had invited business delegation from
Muzaffarabad to visit Srinagar and Jammu from Monday but
without any response from the other side.
"Since they have actually engage in trade, it is
essential that the business communities of the two sides of
Kashmir meet. Without that, the exercise will be meaningless,"
an official said here.
In July, Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan had
exchanged lists of commodities with zero tariff regime and to
begin implementation, each side had agreed to indicate the
items they were willing to receive.
The officials of both the countries are also expected to
discuss launch of bus service between Kargil and Skardu in
Northern Areas under Pakistani control.
The two countries have already decided to designate the
Rawalkot Deputy Commissioner and Jammu Regional Passport
Officer as authorities responsible for issuing travel
documents for passengers travelling on the Rawalkot-Poonch
bus.
The officials are also likely to discuss introduction of
three entry points for cross-LoC travel from next month.
The measures were agreed at the talks between Foreign
Secretaries of the two countries held here.
Another issue on the agenda is facilitating crossing of
citizens on Uri-Hajipir border and to enhance the number of
persons allowed to cross to 60. PTI AKK
