slamabad: Pakistan and India ended two days of foreign secretary-level talks here yesterday, agreeing to carry forward the resumed bilateral dialogue process, strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and continue discussions in future on how to break the deadlock over the Kashmir dispute.
Indian Foreign Secretry Nirupama Rao and her Paksitani counterpart Salman Bashir led the delegations at three rounds of talks on peace and security including confidence building measures (CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges.
The issues were discussed in a "comprehensive manner," said a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the talks, adding that both sides "emphasised the importance of constructive dialogue to promote mutual understanding."
Cordial atmosphere
Analysts here note that no breakthrough was expected and none emerged from the talks, the last of a series of meetings held by senior officials of the two countries on various issues dividing them following the agreement between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu last year to resume the dialogue.
The joint statement said the talks were held in a "frank and cordial atmosphere" and both sides "reiterated their intention to carry forward the dialogue process in a constructive and purposeful manner."
It said the two sides noted the ongoing implementation of various nuclear and conventional CBMs.
Building trust
"They also decided to convene separate expert level meetings on Nuclear and Conventional CBMs to discuss implementation and strengthening of existing arrangements and to consider additional measures, which are mutually acceptable, to build trust and confidence and promote peace and security."
The dates for the expert level meetings will be determined through diplomatic channels. The foreign secretaries noted that both countries recognise that terrorism poses a continuing threat to peace and security and they reiterated "the firm and undiluted commitment" of the two countries to fight and eliminate this scourge in all its forms and manifestations, the statement said.
"They agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism," it added. The statement said the foreign secretaries exchanged views on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and "agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward-looking manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences."