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India, Pak may change format to carry forward dialogue process

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Aug 30, IRNA
India-Pakistan
India and Pakistan may consider a changed format to carry forward the dialogue process to address all outstanding issues at the Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad on September one, two weeks ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran will leave for Islamabad tomorrow on a three-day visit for the talks with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Muhammad Khan in what will essentially be a stock-taking exercise of the current status of Indo-Pak ties.

Official sources here said the Foreign Secretaries would meet for a "wrap-up" sessions of the second round of the Composite Dialogue process.

They would now assess the progress made during the second round of the dialogue, take stock of the relationship and outline the course to move forward the dialogue process, the sources said.

Ahead of his meeting, Saran said there has been "noticeable progress" in some of the issues of the issues discussed under the composite dialogue framework.

"So, perhaps, the composite dialogue will still need to be carried on in future as well, but perhaps, in somewhat of a changed format," he said.

Saran said no definitive decisions have been taken on this issue.

"I think we really need to have a fuller exchange of views in Islamabad when I am there".

During talks, the Indian side is likely to press for speedy handing over of fugitives taking shelter in Pakistan and raise issue of release of civilian and other prisoners.

As part of the ongoing high-level contacts, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid M. Kasuri in Islamabad on October four.

Home Secretaries of the two countries have held extensive discussions on the sixth subject of terrorism and drug trafficking.

During the talks, both sides agreed to release "some" prisoners languishing in each other's jails as part of a humanitarian gesture.

Sources privy to the talks said some of the prisoners were likely to be released soon after both sides exchanged lists in this regard.

The two Foreign Secretaries earlier planned to meet on the sidelines of the SAARC Standing Committee scheduled to be held in Islamabad on August 17. It was, however, put off due to assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in Colombo.

During the talks, the issue of transit facility for Indian goods to Afghanistan, Gulf and Central Asia via Pakistan may again come up.

Pakistan has insisted that allowing the proposed 7.4 billion dollar Iran-India gas pipeline through its territory was a "stand alone" decision and could not be clubbed with other spheres.

During talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Sunday, the Indian Prime Minister had emphasized that Pakistan should come on board on the transit issue.

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