By IANS,
New Delhi : Two government-sponsored Indian and Pakistani defence think tanks have inked a five-year deal to promote academic and scholarly ties, parliament was informed Monday.
The aim of the agreement between India’s Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and the Pakistani Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS) “is meant to establish academic and scholarly ties between the two institutes for cooperation in research on national and international security issues,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Towards this, the two institutes would exchange ideas on issues of common concern by conducting conferences, seminars and round tables; exchange research scholars, research works and publications; and conduct joint research projects, the minister said.
The agreement between the two institutes was signed Feb 8 and would be in force for five years.
“It can be further extended by periods of five years at a time unless either gives to the other a written notice three months in advance of its intention to terminate it before its expiry,” Antony said.
“Any differences or difficulties that may arise in its implementation will be settled by mutual consultations,” the minister added.