Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

India, Pak to hold third round of Composite Dialogue

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Jan 17, IRNA
India-Pak-Dialogue
India and Pakistan are to begin two days of foreign secretary-level talks here today.

The foreign secretaries of the two states will initiate the third round of their Composite Dialogue during which they will finalize a schedule of meetings on the six subjects under the dialogue (Siachen, Sir Creek, Tulbul Navigation project, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges) as well as the technical talks they have agreed to hold during this round.

The foreign secretaries will hold detailed discussions on two other subjects -- peace and security (including CBMs) and Jammu and Kashmir.

They will also review and assess the decisions taken by the expert-level groups on nuclear and conventional CBMs.

During their discussion on Jammu and Kashmir, they will, inter-alia, assess the progress of the confidence-building measures across the LoC and finalize dates for a technical-level meeting to discuss modalities of outstanding measures that have been taken such as opening of the Poonch-Rawalakot bus service, truck service along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route, meeting points across the LoC and allowing pilgrims across the Line of Control.

The foreign secretaries will also finalize dates for meetings of the technical-level working groups of their joint commission, the foreign secretaries' review meeting of the current round of the Composite Dialogue to be followed by a plenary session of the joint commission and review meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries.

They will also assess the overall progress achieved during the last two rounds of the Composite Dialogue and take stock of the outstanding issues as well as those on which decisions have been reached and action is impending. In this context, the issues of opening consulates general in Mumbai and Karachi and making operational the Munabao-Khokhrapar rail link are likely to be discussed.

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