Islamabad, February 17
Setting a positive tone on the eve of the Foreign Secretary-level talks, India and Pakistan today reached a “broad understanding” on the time frame and modalities for the resumption of the composite dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

The proposed time frame for the meetings on different issues was decided during the two-day parleys between Mr Arun Singh, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, and Mr Jalil Abbas Jilani, Director-General for South Asia in Pakistan Foreign Office, sources said.

The proposals would be submitted to Foreign Secretary Shashank and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Khokhar who will meet here tomorrow.

Before flying to the Pakistani capital via Karachi, Mr Shashank said in New Delhi that “we are starting the (dialogue) process with sincerity and we hope to continue this on a continuous basis.”

An announcement on the process of carrying forward the composite dialogue is expected to be made tomorrow evening at the end of the parleys between Mr Shashank and Mr Khokhar.

The sources said, “Broad understanding on the time frame and modalities for the composite dialogue has been reached.”

Both sides had kept the eight issues identified in 1997 as the basis for discussing the modalities and time frame, they said. The eight issues listed in the 1997 composite dialogue agenda included peace and security, Kashmir, Siachen, Wullar Barrage, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking and economic cooperation.