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India, Pakistan discuss new confidence building measures
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-08 13:48
Indian and Pakistani officials were discussing new confidence building
measures Monday after reaching a weekend agreement to set up a hot line between
their foreign ministries and to warn the other about missile tests, AP reported.
During the daylong talks, both sides were to discuss conventional military
issues, India's foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said before the talks
began.
Sarna did not elaborate, but the two sides were expected to discuss reducing
the military presence in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and other
border-related differences.
On Saturday, the two countries agreed to set up a hot line next month "to
prevent misunderstandings and reduce risks relevant to nuclear issues." They
also agreed to formalize a long-standing arrangement to inform each other about
upcoming missile tests.
Analysts said the agreement reached Saturday showed the often-stumbling peace
dialogue between the South Asian nuclear rival was moving forward.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, and a
fourth conflict nearly erupted in 2002 after New Delhi accused Pakistan-based
militants of attacking India's Parliament. Islamabad denied involvement.
Relations between the two countries have warmed since January last year after
their leaders initiated a peace dialogue. However, the two sides have made few
moves toward resolving their competing claims to the Himalayan territory of
Kashmir - the dispute at the heart of their rivalry - despite
significant progress on other fronts.
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