India, Pakistan reiterate desire to carry forward dialogue process

New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): Emphasizing the need to promote greater trust and mutual understanding through constructive dialogue, foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan on Thursday reiterated their respective governments desire to carry forward the dialogue process in a purposeful and result-oriented manner.

"The talks were held in a frank and constructive atmosphere. Both sides reiterated their desire to carry forward the dialogue process in a purposeful and result-oriented manner," a joint statement issued after the foreign secretary-level talks said.

"The issue of peace and security, including CBMs, was discussed in a comprehensive manner. Both sides emphasized the need to promote greater trust and mutual understanding through constructive dialogue," the statement said.

Foreign Secretaries of the two nations Ranjan Mathai and Jalil Abbas Jilani also reviewed the ongoing implementation of the already adopted Nuclear and Conventional CBMs.

"It was decided that separate meetings of the Expert Level Groups on Nuclear and Conventional CBMs will be held to discuss implementation and strengthening of the existing CBMs and suggest additional mutually acceptable steps that could build greater trust and confidence between the two countries, thereby contributing to peace and security," the joint statement said.

"The dates for the meetings of Expert Level Groups will be determined through diplomatic channels," the statement added.

Mathai and Jilani said they had a comprehensive exchange of views on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward looking manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences.

Both sides recognized the need to strengthen the existing Cross-LoC CBMs for streamlining the arrangements to facilitate travel and trade across LOC.

They decided to convene a meeting of the Working Group on Cross-LoC CBMs on July 19 in Islamabad to recommend steps for strengthening and streamlining and effectively implementing the existing trade and travel arrangements and propose modalities for introducing additional cross LoC CBMs.

Both sides underlined the importance of greater people to people contacts and friendly exchanges in building a relationship of trust and friendship between the two countries. They noted that the text of a revised bilateral visa agreement has already been finalized and decided to work for its early signing.

They emphasized the importance of greater parliamentary exchanges; promotion of cooperation in various fields including facilitating visits to religious shrines and cessation of hostile propaganda against each other.

The foreign secretaries also emphasized the need to promote media and sports contacts.

The Foreign Secretary of Pakistan will be calling on External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon during his visit.

The foreign secretaries will meet again in Islamabad, on a date to be decided through diplomatic channels, to prepare for the meeting of the External Affairs Foreign Ministers in September 2012. (ANI)