M A I N   N E W S

6 new proposals for Indo-Pak talks

Islamabad, July 30
India will make six new proposals, including permanently opening the Wagah-Atari border for trade, to Pakistan during talks on commercial and economic cooperation in New Delhi from August 9 to 10, media reports said.

The proposals included New Delhi seeking most favoured nation (MFN) status from Islamabad, transit of its goods for export to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics, openings for private Indian airlines, allowing Indian banks branches and amendment to the Shipping Protocol 1974, Daily Times said, quoting an unnamed official.

A very important inter-ministerial meeting has been convened in the Commerce Ministry on August 3 to prepare Pakistan’s reply, the official said.

He said secretaries and top officials of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR), Foreign Office, Commerce Ministry, Defence Ministry and Port and Shipping Ministry would attend the meeting.

The meeting would discuss the 24 proposals submitted by India during the last meeting on August 10 and 11, 2004, and the six new proposals, he added.

The official said that Commerce Secretary Tasneem Noorani would head the Pakistani delegation consisting of officials from the Commerce Ministry, CBR, Industries Ministry, Board of Investment and the Foreign Office.

Musharraf, Manmohan to go soft on statements

Islamabad, July 30
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have agreed to avoid statements that could endanger the ongoing peace process between the two countries.

General Musharraf called Dr Singh late yesterday, to offer his condolences over the loss of life and property due to torrential rains in India.

“Both leaders have agreed to eschew statements that can damage the ongoing peace process,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told newspersons here.

The conversation took place after President Musharraf told foreign media in Islamabad that he looked forward to a meeting with Dr Singh at New York in September. — UNI