New Delhi
26 August 2005
India and Pakistan are expected to discuss the
possibility of a Joint Commission to take forward the progress achieved in
the composite dialogue process over recent months.
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who will soon travel to Islamabad for
holding talks with his Pakistani counterpat Riaz Muhammad Khan, on
Friday said both sides could discuss the mandate of such a Joint
Commission.
On the moves to hold further talks under the aegis of an Indo-Pak Joint
Commission, as reported first by The Asian Age, the foreign secretary
said the two countries needed to come to an understanding on its
mandate.
He noted that the Joint Commission in the 1980s related to economic and
trade issues as also on promoting people-to-people contacts. The
composite dialogue process has been looking at specific issues like
Siachen, Sir Creek, terrorism and narcotics trafficking.
Mr Saran told media persons that it was not clear whether all those
issues could be "subsumed" in the Joint Commission. He added that the
composite dialogue process has seen much "progress" and had proved
useful.
He also said that the home secretaries of the two countries would meet in
New Delhi on August 29 and 30 to discuss terrorim and narcotics
trafficking as part of the ongoing composite dialogue process.
On the issue of India not being allowed a transit route through Pakistan,
the foreign secretary said if Islamabad could agree to the India-Pakistan-
Iran gas pipeline, other exchanges must also be allowed.
Asserting that a transit facility would be "win-win" situation for both India
and Pakistan, he observed that development of bilateral economic
linkages would be a major contributor to the peace process.
Briefing reporters on the Prime Minister's August 28-29 visit to Kabul, the
foreign secretary said India would be happy to consider Afghanistan's
requirement for any additional support insofar as defence and security
were concerned.
Describing the Taliban as a newly emerging threat to the political stability
of Afghanistan, Mr Saran said India would provide economic assistance
and promote development programmes in order to keep remnants of
Taliban "under control".
No comments:
Post a Comment