ID :
21230
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 21:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21230
The shortlink copeid
India, Pak decide on slew of CBMs
G Sudhakar Nair
New York, Sept 25 (PTI) Against the backdrop of
increasing terror attacks, India and Pakistan Thursday agreed
that terrorism has no place in their bilateral relationship
even as they decided on a series of confidence building
measures, including commencing of cross- LoC trade in Jammu
and Kashmir from October 21.
In their first meeting on the sidelines of the United
Nations General Assembly (U.N.G.A.) session, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and new Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari
decided that a special meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror
Mechanism will be held next month to address mutual concerns,
including the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
India suspects Inter Services Intelligence (I.S.I.)
hand in the Kabul attack in July in which more than 50 people,
including a senior Indian Foreign Service (I.F.S.) official
and Defence Attache, were killed.
A joint statement issued after over an hour-long
meeting at the Millenium Hotel, where Zardari is staying, said
severe action would be taken against any elements directing or
involved in terrorist acts. The two leaders had one-on-one
talks for about an hour.
Zardari was effusive in his praise of the Prime
Minister whom he described as the architect of modern India.
President Zardari reassured the Prime Minister that
Pakistan stands by its commitments of January 6, 2004 when it
pledged not to allow terrorism directed against India from its
soil.
"Both leaders acknowledged that the peace process has
been under strain in recent months. They agreed that violence,
hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share
of the bilateral relationship and must be visibly and
verifiably prevented," the joint statement said.
Addressing the Pakistani media, Zardari described
Kashmir as the "core issue," and said his country would like
to resolve the problem bilaterally with India but if need be,
it can always go back to the U.N.
"We are trying to seek a solution bilaterally and
nothing could be better if the two governments can resolve it
on their own. But if need be we can always go back to the
United Nations," he said.
But despite repeated questions, Zardari did not make
any reference to the United Nations resolutions which call for
a plebiscite in the state.
Both leaders agreed that the forces that have tried to
derail the peace process must be defeated.
This would allow the continuation and deepening of a
constructive dialogues for the peaceful resolution and
satisfactory settlement of all bilateral issues including
Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said.
In a significant decision expanding the people-to-
people contacts, the two leaders agreed that the cross-LoC
trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads
would commence on October 21.
Modalities for the opening of the Skardu-Kargil route
will be discussed soon.
During the recent agitation in the Kashmir valley, one
of the main demands of the separatists was the immediate
opening of the routes for trade.
The other decisions included Foreign Secretary-level
meetings of the 5th round of 'Composite Dialogue' in the next
three months which will focus on deliverable and comprehensive
achievements.
They decided that the cease-fire should be stabilised
to this end and Directors General, Military Operation, and
sector commanders will stay in regular contacts.
The leaders felt that the expansion of people-to-
people contact, trade, commerce and economic cooperation will
provide an effective platform to develop and strengthen
bilateral relations.
Towards this end, it was decided to open the Wagah-
Attari road link to all permissible items of trade, Khokrapar-
Munnabao rail routes to all permissible items of trade.
They also decided to continue the interaction between
the planning commission of both the countries to develop
mutually beneficial cooperation including the energy sector.
Singh congratulated President Zardari on his election
as the victory of democracy in Pakistan. He expressed the hope
that this would pave the way for a profound transformation of
the bilateral relationship so that India and Pakistan could
work together on their shared objectives of peace, prosperity
and security.
Both leaders welcomed the several positive outcomes of
the four rounds of the Composite Dialogues which have brought
their people and businesses and institutions closer while
permitting sustained efforts to be made to resolve all
outstanding issues: these gains need to be consolidated
New York, Sept 25 (PTI) Against the backdrop of
increasing terror attacks, India and Pakistan Thursday agreed
that terrorism has no place in their bilateral relationship
even as they decided on a series of confidence building
measures, including commencing of cross- LoC trade in Jammu
and Kashmir from October 21.
In their first meeting on the sidelines of the United
Nations General Assembly (U.N.G.A.) session, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and new Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari
decided that a special meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror
Mechanism will be held next month to address mutual concerns,
including the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
India suspects Inter Services Intelligence (I.S.I.)
hand in the Kabul attack in July in which more than 50 people,
including a senior Indian Foreign Service (I.F.S.) official
and Defence Attache, were killed.
A joint statement issued after over an hour-long
meeting at the Millenium Hotel, where Zardari is staying, said
severe action would be taken against any elements directing or
involved in terrorist acts. The two leaders had one-on-one
talks for about an hour.
Zardari was effusive in his praise of the Prime
Minister whom he described as the architect of modern India.
President Zardari reassured the Prime Minister that
Pakistan stands by its commitments of January 6, 2004 when it
pledged not to allow terrorism directed against India from its
soil.
"Both leaders acknowledged that the peace process has
been under strain in recent months. They agreed that violence,
hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share
of the bilateral relationship and must be visibly and
verifiably prevented," the joint statement said.
Addressing the Pakistani media, Zardari described
Kashmir as the "core issue," and said his country would like
to resolve the problem bilaterally with India but if need be,
it can always go back to the U.N.
"We are trying to seek a solution bilaterally and
nothing could be better if the two governments can resolve it
on their own. But if need be we can always go back to the
United Nations," he said.
But despite repeated questions, Zardari did not make
any reference to the United Nations resolutions which call for
a plebiscite in the state.
Both leaders agreed that the forces that have tried to
derail the peace process must be defeated.
This would allow the continuation and deepening of a
constructive dialogues for the peaceful resolution and
satisfactory settlement of all bilateral issues including
Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said.
In a significant decision expanding the people-to-
people contacts, the two leaders agreed that the cross-LoC
trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads
would commence on October 21.
Modalities for the opening of the Skardu-Kargil route
will be discussed soon.
During the recent agitation in the Kashmir valley, one
of the main demands of the separatists was the immediate
opening of the routes for trade.
The other decisions included Foreign Secretary-level
meetings of the 5th round of 'Composite Dialogue' in the next
three months which will focus on deliverable and comprehensive
achievements.
They decided that the cease-fire should be stabilised
to this end and Directors General, Military Operation, and
sector commanders will stay in regular contacts.
The leaders felt that the expansion of people-to-
people contact, trade, commerce and economic cooperation will
provide an effective platform to develop and strengthen
bilateral relations.
Towards this end, it was decided to open the Wagah-
Attari road link to all permissible items of trade, Khokrapar-
Munnabao rail routes to all permissible items of trade.
They also decided to continue the interaction between
the planning commission of both the countries to develop
mutually beneficial cooperation including the energy sector.
Singh congratulated President Zardari on his election
as the victory of democracy in Pakistan. He expressed the hope
that this would pave the way for a profound transformation of
the bilateral relationship so that India and Pakistan could
work together on their shared objectives of peace, prosperity
and security.
Both leaders welcomed the several positive outcomes of
the four rounds of the Composite Dialogues which have brought
their people and businesses and institutions closer while
permitting sustained efforts to be made to resolve all
outstanding issues: these gains need to be consolidated
