By NNN-KUNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan and India on Friday concluded two-day long Foreign Secretary level peace talks, which discussed peace and security related issues in a “comprehensive manner” but no headway was achieved on vital issues.
According to a joint press statement, issued here at the conclusion of the talks, the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India held bilateral talks on peace and security including CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir and promotion of friendly exchanges in three sessions.
The joint statement said that the talks were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. Both sides reiterated their intention to carry forward the dialogue process in a constructive and purposeful manner.
The issues of peace and security, including CBMs, were discussed in a comprehensive manner. Both sides emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue to promote mutual understanding.
The two sides also discussed nuclear related issues and “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”.
Later addressing a joint press conference, the two officials said that further development on Mumbai terror attacks also came under discussion. Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that the Indian concerns were highlighted.
Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir emphasized on the importance of eliminating the terrorism phenomenon and said that it poses threat to the two nations.
The statement said that the two sides agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism.
On vital Kashmir dispute, the cause of three wars between the two neighbors, the Foreign Secretaries exchanged views on the issue of Jammu 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.