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Pak, India agree on 4-point conventional CBMs to avoid conflict

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 27, IRNA
Pakistan-India-Conventional CBMs
Pakistan and India on Thursday agreed on a four-point Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the conventional fields aimed at avoidance of conflict between them.

This was decided at the third round of Pakistan-India Expert Level Dialogue on Conventional CBMs in Islamabad.

A joint statement issued at the conclusion of the talks said the two sides agreed on finalization of Border Ground Rules for implementation along the international border.

They agreed on modalities for holding quarterly flag meetings and on needs basis at sector level commanders in already agreed sectors.

Modalities for communication in this context would be further discussed, the statement said.

They also agreed on elaborating, consistent with its intent, the agreement reached on no development of new posts and defense works along the Line of Control.

They decided to finalization of an agreement on speedy return of inadvertent line crossers, it said.

At the talks, the Pakistan delegation was led by additional secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tariq Osman Hyder and Indian side was led by joint secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Dilip Sinha.

Briefing newsmen, the heads of the delegations said the two sides held discussions in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.

They said the two sides continued consultations on security concepts to develop measures for confidence building in the conventional field.

Tariq Osman Hyder said Pakistan side presented a draft Agreement on the Prevention of Incidents at Sea in order to ensure safety of navigation by naval vessels, and aircraft belonging to the two sides.

He said the two sides agreed to periodically discuss further CBMs and to review and monitor the implementation of existing Conventional CBMs as mandated by the foreign secretaries in the Composite Dialogue process.

To a question about troops reduction in Kashmir, Tariq Osman Hyder said, "We have discussed dispute settlements including the Kashmir issue in terms of demilitarization of the region and we have given ideas to the Indian side."
Dilip Sinha said that the India has sovereign right for deployment of its forces as it is a matter of security.

To another question regarding the release of detainees in each others jails, the leader of the Indian delegation said, "We have been releasing the prisoners after the consular access and completing other process."
He said India will release all such prisoners after completing modalities.

Later, briefing newsmen, the leader of Pakistan delegation Osman Hyder explained various proposals and suggestions presented at the talks to the Indian side to move forward to strengthen the confidence building between the two countries for the resolution of disputes.

2020/235/2322/1414