The issue of J&K will remain the key subject for the Pakistani establishment at the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks with India.
The two sides have agreed on a draft agreement on reducing the risk of nuclear accidents
LAHORE: Although the issue of Jammu and Kashmir will remain the key subject for the Pakistani establishment at the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks with India in New Delhi, the Pakistani delegation is all set to ink an agreement with India in the area of peace and security to reduce the risk of nuclear accidents.
Well placed foreign office sources in Islamabad say that the Pakistani delegation which is leaving for Delhi on November 13 to hold talks with India has been made it clear that the issue of Jammu & Kashmir should remain the focus of the two-day discussions.
However, the sources conceded that a draft agreement on reducing the risk of nuclear accidents or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons has been under discussion between the two countries since August 2005. At the last round of expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs in Islamabad in April 2006, the two sides almost came close to reaching an understanding but it could not be firmed up due to some reservations expressed by the Pakistani side.
The sources said that after certain amendments in the draft agreement, Pakistan has expressed its willingness to India to sign the agreement during the upcoming Delhi talks. The added that agreements on modalities of holding flag meetings between sector-level commanders at the Line of Control and speedy repatriation of inadvertent border crossers are also in the offing. To a question, the sources said that the two sides would try to narrow down differences on Sir Creek and Siachen.
The issue of prisoners, trade matters, including a trans-Kashmir truck service, re-opening of consulates in Mumbai and Karachi and visa regime would also figure in discussions. The sources said that there is a strong possibility that modalities of the joint anti-terror institutional mechanism that President General Musharraf and PM Singh decided to put in place during their Havana meeting in September would be firmed up.
They added that Pakistan is keen to establish the mechanism because it has serious concerns about the Indian-sponsored anti-Pakistan activities in Balochistan and the North West Frontier Province through Afghanistan in recent years.
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