Pak, India pledge to maintain ceasefire

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and India Thursday agreed to review the implementation of the existing Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) while consultations continued with the aim of strengthening the ongoing process confidence building conventional fields.
This was decided in the fourth round of Pakistan-India expert level dialogue on conventional confidence building measures which were held in New Delhi on Thursday (Oct 18, 2007). The Pakistani delegation was led by Aziz Ahmed Chaudhary DG (SA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs while TCA Raghavan, joint secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Indian delegation to the talks.
The delegations of the both the countries reiterated their commitment to uphold the ceasefire and also expressed their willingness to report the progress made in the present round of talks the to respective foreign secretaries, says in a press release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
APP/ Foreign Correspondent — Talks-CBMs Pak-India dialogues on conventional Confidence Buildings Measures held here on Thursday focused on making arrangements to deal with inadvertent border crossers and an agreement on Prevention of Incidents at Sea. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs led Pakistani side at the talks while the Indian delegation headed by T.C.A. Raghavan, Joint Secretary Ministry of External Affairs participated.
During the talks, which continued for several hours different Confidence CBMs were discussed to improve relations between both the countries. Talking to reporters on his arrival here on Wednesday evening Khalid Aziz Babar, Additional Secretary (UN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan wanted transparency in relationship with India.
Khalid Aziz, who will lead Pakistan delegation at talks on nuclear CBMs to be held on Friday, said these talks were aimed at finally reaching to the resolution of Kashmir issue which was the “biggest Confidence Building Measure.” Khalid Aziz Babar said Pakistan was confident that these talks would enable both the countries to move forward to resolve Kashmir issue. Four agreements on conventional CBMs including non-establishment of new posts on LOC, holding cease-fire and opening of crossing points on LoC had already been reached between both the countries. The talks on nuclear CBMs will be held on Friday. Khalid Aziz Babar, Additional Secretary (UN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lead Pakistani side while the Indian delegation led by K.C. Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs will participate.
The talks will review implementation of existing Agreements and security issues. Both existing and new CBMs will also come under discussion. Three agreements with regard to nuclear CBMS including establishment of hotline, informing each other’s country before conducting tests on ballistic missiles and reduction of nuclear risk had already been inked by the both the countries. Talks on anti-terror mechanism between both the countries will be held on October 22. Khalid Aziz Babar will lead Pakistani side. Last dialogues on Anti-terror mechanism were held in April this year in Islamabad.
India and Pakistan return to the table for a new series of peace talks on Thursday but with both governments weakened by local politics, their dialogue is likely to achieve little, officials and analysts said. Top officials of the South Asian rivals will discuss moves to boost trust on conventional and nuclear security issues this week and hold the second meeting of a joint counter-terrorism panel on Monday as part of their larger peace process.
They will negotiate steps to deal with inadvertent border crossings by their nationals, prevent clashes between fishermen and coast guards at sea and review measures in place to reduce the risk of nuclear accidents, the Indian foreign ministry said. “There may not be any agreements but there will be some forward movement,” a senior Indian foreign ministry official, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.
The official said the Indian government’s troubles with its communist allies over a controversial nuclear deal with the United States had not hurt the country’s overall foreign policy, but added the situation in Pakistan was uncertain. “I can’t say the same about them. It is for them to determine,” he said.
Pakistan has witnessed political turmoil for a large part of this year with President Pervez Musharraf battling legal and political challenges amid serious doubts over his future. Islamist militants have also rallied against his rule and stepped up violent attacks and there is speculation he might invoke emergency powers or martial law if the Supreme Court blocks him from being re-elected as president. The nuclear-armed neighbours launched peace talks in 2004 after coming close to the brink of their fourth war.
The dialogue has reduced tensions, helped maintain a military truce, led to a fall in militant violence in Kashmir — at the heart of 60 years of hostile relations — and boosted cultural, sporting and transport links. But it has made slow progress toward resolving the central territorial dispute over Kashmir and failed to end a bitter confrontation over the Siachen glacier in Kashmir. “I don’t see any special significance to these talks because the crucial issues like Kashmir and Siachen, they are still unresolved,” said Ershad Mahmud of Islamabad’s Institute of Policy Studies, referring to the latest dialogue.—Agencies