Islamabad, December 28
Furthering its people-centric approach, India today proposed establishment of five designated points along the border for interaction between divided families on both sides of Kashmir even as differences persisted with Pakistan on the problem of cross-border terrorism.
At the two-day Foreign Secretary-level talks that ended here, New Delhi stressed that more needs to be done on Pakistan’s assurance that its soil would not be allowed to be used for terrorist acts against India.
Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said he had made it clear that implementation of this assurance “is fundamental to further the peace process”.
At a separate Press meet, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar claimed there was no cross-border LoC movement. “As far as Pakistan government is concerned, nothing is happening on the LoC”.
The five identified meeting places on the LoC and international border are Mendhar, Poonch, Suchetgarh, Uri and Tangdhar, Saran said at the conclusion of talks on the second round of the Composite Dialogue process.
The two sides decided on a range of measures to mitigate sufferings of apprehended fishermen, civilian prisoners and missing defence personnel.
New Delhi suggested that such interactions at the border could take place at designated time under joint security, Saran said, adding “this will be a big step towards promoting contacts between divided families and people of Kashmir on both sides”.
He said Pakistan conveyed that it will consider the Indian proposal.
Building on the existing contacts between Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs), Saran and Khokhar decided to promote regular contacts at designated places and explore further Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) along the international boundary and Line of Control (LoC).
Observing that the talks had ended on a “positive and optimistic note,” Saran said India had assured Pakistan that it was serious on continuing the dialogue process including on Jammu and Kashir to find a solution to the vexed issue.
Both sides discussed the J and K issue and agreed to carry forward the process in the light of the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in New York on September 24.
