Pakistan, India start talks on disputed water boundaries
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 28, IRNA
Pakistan-India-Water Boundaries
Pakistan and India on Saturday started first day of talks over Sir Creek to resolve their dispute over the water boundaries, with both saying they held talks 'in cordial and friendly atmosphere'.
"Both sides deliberated upon the issue and understood each other's point of view," a Defense Ministry statement said.
Pakistan's side was led by Additional Secretary Ministry of Defense Rear Admiral Ehsanul Haq Chaudhary while the Indian side was headed by Surveyor General Maj. General Gopal Rao.
The talks will continue on Sunday.
The last round of talks on Sir Creek -- which borders Indian Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindh province -- was held in Delhi in August 2004 and ended without any agreement.
Saturday's talks were being held a day after the defense secretaries of the two countries could not reach any agreement on demilitarization of the Siachen Glacier -- the highest battlefield in the world but the two sides had agreed to continue talks.
In January this year, Pakistan and India completed a joint survey on the Sir Creek boundary pillars. Eight teams each from Pakistan and India participated in the first ever survey of the disputed boundary.
The dates for these talks were set when President Pervez Musharraf last month met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his trip to New Delhi to watch an India-Pakistan cricket match.
The Indian delegation in Sir Creek talks also met Pakistan secretary defense, who emphasized the need for resolving all outstanding issues between the two countries, the statement said.
TK/TSH/2322/1412
::IRNA No.050 28/05/2005 19:10 --End
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