Joint Statement
after Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan
Date: September 2,
2005
Place: Islamabad, Pakistan
September 2, 2005
The Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan and the Foreign
Secretary of India Mr. Shyam Saran met in Islamabad on September 1, 2005
to review the progress of the second round of the composite dialogue
comprising Peace and Security including CBMs; Jammu and Kashmir; Siachen;
Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; Sir Creek; Terrorism and Drug
Trafficking; Economic and Commercial Cooperation and Promotion of
Friendly Exchanges in Various Fields. The talks were held in a cordial,
constructive and friendly atmosphere.
2. The Foreign Secretaries reviewed the progress made so far and
assessed the developments in bilateral relations since the last review
meeting of the Composite Dialogue held in September 2004. The Foreign
Secretaries expressed satisfaction over the positive developments during
the current round of the composite dialogue. They also reaffirmed the
important outcomes of the discussions between President Pervez Musharraf
and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reflected in the 18th April, 2005
Joint Statement.
3. The
Foreign Secretaries reviewed the work of their experts who discussed
Nuclear and Conventional CBMs and have contributed to a better
understanding of each other’s concerns. They welcomed the continuation
of the ceasefire and commended the finalization of the Agreement on
Pre-Notification of Ballistic Missile Tests. They recommended that the
Agreement on Pre-Notification of Flight Testing of Ballistic Missiles
and the MOU on establishing communication links between the Pakistan
Maritime Security Agency and the Indian Coast Guard be signed during the
forthcoming Ministerial Level Review Meeting on 3-5 October, 2005 at
Islamabad.
4. The Foreign Secretaries welcomed the commencement of the
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus Service and agreed to hold a technical level
meeting as soon as possible on the early operationalization of
Poonch-Rawalakot Bus Service and a truck service for trade on the
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route. They agreed on further discussions on
meeting points across LoC for divided families to ensure early
implementation.
5. The
Foreign Secretaries reiterated the importance of enhancing mutually
beneficial economic cooperation and friendly exchanges. They noted that
technical meetings would be held in September 2005 to review the
bilateral Air Services Agreement and the Shipping Protocol. Technical
experts will finalize the modalities for operationlisation of the
Lahore-Amritsar and Nankana Sahib – Amritsar bus services during
September 2005. They agreed that the 1988 Cultural Exchange Programme
Agreement should be revised. The Foreign Secretaries noted the decision
to expand the 1974 Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines to
increase the number of pilgrims and add new sites in both countries. In
addition, it was agreed to undertake an updating of the 1974 Visa
Agreement.
6. The two Foreign Secretaries agreed on the need to improve, on
humanitarian grounds, the existing mechanism for expeditious disposal of
consular issues related to prisoners, fishermen and inadvertent line
crossers of either side. They also agreed to implement the understanding
reached in this regard during the Foreign Secretaries level talks in
December 2004 and Home/Interior Secretaries talks in August 2005. In
this regard, the need for revision of the 1982 Protocol on Consular
access was agreed upon. The Foreign Secretaries welcomed the decision to
release all prisoners on 12th September 2005 whose nationality was
confirmed and who have completed their sentences.
7. The
Foreign Secretaries recalled the decision taken in April 2005 by
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
to revive the India-Pakistan Joint Commission. They recommended that a
meeting of the Joint Commission be held during the visit of External
Affairs Minister, Mr. K. Natwar Singh to Pakistan on October 3-5, 2005.
8. The Foreign Secretaries agreed on the following schedule for third
round of Composite Dialogue:
- The Foreign Secretaries would meet in January 2006 in New Delhi to
launch the next round of the Composite Dialogue.
- The next round of the Composite Dialogue meetings on the other six
subjects will be held between January and July 2006.
- All technical level meetings would be concluded by April 2006.
9. The Indian Foreign Secretary Mr. Shyam Saran paid a courtesy call on
President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Islamabad
September 02, 2005
