Pakistan and India on Sunday began a composite dialogue process focussing on peace and security, and confidence-building measures (CBMs) in a "positive" and "constructive atmosphere".
Pakistani side was led by Foreign Secretary Riaz H. Khokhar, while Indian side was headed by Foreign Secretary Shashank at the two-day talks, held here at the Hyderabad House.
Two identical statements released later by both the sides said the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met on Sunday to commence the composite dialogue.
"They discussed the subject of peace and security including CBMs," the statement said at the conclusion of first day of talks.
"Ideas and proposals were exchanged to take the process further," the statement said, adding, talks on Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Monday.
The Pakistani side, besides the foreign secretary, included Pakistan High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmad Khan, Additional Secretary Salman Bashir, Director-General (SA) Jalil Abbas Jilani, Deputy High Commissioner Munawar Saeed, Director-General (UN) and Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan and other officials of the ministry.
The Indian side, headed by the foreign secretary, comprised Foreign Secretary designate Shyam Saran, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shivshankar Menon, Joint Secretary (MEA) Arun Singh and other officials of the External Affairs Ministry.
Identical agreement statements were read out by Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan and Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna in their separate media briefings held at the conclusion of discussions on the first day of talks.
At a briefing held in the Pakistan High Commissioner along with Deputy High Commissioner Munawar Saeed, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told newsmen that the question pertaining to the restoration of strength to 110 at the respective High Commissions came under discussion during the meeting and the decision would be announced on Monday in that regard.
Billing the atmospherics at the talks as very constructive, Khan said both the sides engaged each other intensely and professionally. There was exchange of views and both sides stated their positions candidly.
There was no difficulty in that sense and flow communications. We knew each other's positions and yet we have explored new avenues. Both sides are focused. There is no difficulty in articulating each other's position and putting across each other's points of views.
To a query, Khan said the question of starting bus service between Muzaffarabad and occupied Srinagar was also discussed during the parleys and there was general exchange of views, adding, decision if any, would be unveiled on tomorrow (Monday).
In response to a question about Pakistan's position on Jinnah House in Bombay, Khan said: "Known positions were reiterated, the subject was discussed and decisions will be taken. You will come to know at the end of the talks by tomorrow."
To a question about discussion on nuclear CBMs at the meeting, the spokesman said experts from both the sides met last week to finalise recommendations on nuclear CBMs. The foreign secretaries looked at those recommendations with a view to approving them.
"They also looked into the conventional CBMs. Of course these were new proposals. Proposals were made from both sides and would be considered very seriously by Pakistan and India.
The governments would take up these proposals and will give a serious consideration to them. But they would discuss in general terms. Whatever conclusions we have, you will come to know tomorrow."
To a question on Kashmir dispute, the spokesman said Pakistan's position is very well known and everybody knows what the position of Pakistan is in that regard. We also know what the position of India is. This round of talks is meant to explore ways to resolve this issue and to address it substantively.
Khan said that he didn't want to speculate on the talks to be held on Monday because the two foreign secretaries have the prerogative to set parameters for the talks and discuss full dimensions of the issue.
But the intent on the part of the Pakistani delegation and on the part of the Indian delegation is to make this exercise result-oriented, he expressed, adding: "You know our position very well that we have to resolve this issue in accordance with the aspirations and wishes of the people of Kashmir."
To a question about the foreign secretary's meeting with the Kashmiri leaders, the spokesman said that traditionally when the foreign secretary or the Pakistani leaders come to New Delhi they do have an opportunity to meet Kashmiri leaders here.
"Today (Sunday) and yesterday, our foreign secretary, Riaz Khokhar, had such an opportunity and he interacted with a few Kashmiri leaders," the spokesman added.
Masood Khan told a questioner that the foreign secretaries of the two countries are taking up peace and security today (Sunday) and Kashmir issue tomorrow.
They have other items on the agenda, including separate and independent agenda items on economic and commercial co-operation, which will be taken by the finance and commercial secretaries of the two countries.
The foreign secretaries would discuss the calendar of activities for other agenda items that is also part of the mandate, he maintained, adding, they would also oversee overall composite dialogue process until it culminates at a political level.
"Pakistan does not have any selective interpretation of peace and security. It is very clear that you need a very peaceful and secure environment in South Asia and that's the ultimate objective," he told another questioner, adding that both India and Pakistan have to work towards that goal.
"We have to have an intent - meaningful and productive engagement - to create that environment that is the overall perspective we have here," he added.
Continuing on nuclear CBMs, Khan said Pakistan and India are nuclear weapons states and they have to elaborate and implement confidence-building measures. "Second is conventional CBMs and third is that you must have a mechanism to resolving conflicts between the two countries, or disputes and differences so that you ensure peaceful and secure neighbourhood," he added.
To a question about terrorism, Khan said there is serious concern on this menace at the international level and it was not linked only to Pakistan and India. The international terrorism in any form must be wiped out, he added.
As far as Pakistan is concern, he said: "We are very much in favour of weeding out terrorism and would strongly support every effort in that regard on national, regional and international level."
Referring to recently held Saarc summit in Islamabad in January this year, Khan said an additional protocol had been inked under which it was decided that all the countries would extend co-operation to each other to check the funding for terrorism.
The entire exercise means it is collective concern and this scourge must be eliminated, he added.
To a question about Pakistan's stand towards resolving Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people, Khan said this is Pakistan's position and there was no change in Pakistan's position in January this year.
This is important to understand that Kashmiris are a principal to the dispute and viable and just solution has to be based on the aspirations of the people of Kashmir, he stressed.
The meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries has already scheduled and it is likely to take place in August this year. This was decided at the meeting held between the foreign secretaries of the two sides in February this year in Islamabad and they came up with a calendar of meetings.
The meetings between the foreign secretaries, which have started today (Sunday) will culminate in meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in August, he added.
To a question about giving an explanation on issue of infiltration by Pakistan, he said: "We owe explanation to nobody. We don't give explanations. These are talks taking place between the two sovereign states. They state their positions and try to reach an understanding. And they also try to resolve the issues between them. That is precisely what we are trying to do right now."
In response to a query, the spokesman said the process of confidence building that started last year is moving in the right direction. The cease-fire that was announced last year in November is holding along the Line of Control (LoC).
If you go back to 2002, there was conflict and confrontation, there was tension and escalation, he said, adding: "Now we have focused on dialogue. That all those issues, which have divided India and Pakistan for such a long time - around six decades - should be resolved through dialogue."
"And this can be done if you have the requisite political will and responsible stewardship. I think this is a historic moment and leadership on both sides, in Pakistan and India, are trying to come up with solutions that is acceptable to the people of Pakistan, people of India and to the people of Kashmir," he said.
To a question about the political developments in the wake of resignation by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali in Pakistan, the spokesman said this is an internal political dynamic and a transition is taking place. It has had no impact on the talks between the two foreign secretaries, he added.
Earlier, briefing the newsmen separately at Shastri Bhawan, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Saran said: "Today's discussions focussed on peace and security, including CBMs."
Both sides are likely to announce some decisions tomorrow (Monday) on several issues including restoring the strength of respective missions in Islamabad and New Delhi to 110 and progress on establishing bus links between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, and Khokrapar and Munabao.
Both, Masood Khan and Navtej Sarna, termed the talks as "positive and constructive". Khan said the talks must continue and both sides were moving in the right direction.
Sarna said there were already several CBMs on the table including the result of the recent expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs.
He said there were proposals for better communication and humanitarian concerns to build mutual trust and confidence, and create better relations between the two countries.
To a query whether the two sides had arrived at any broad understanding today (Sunday), he said: "Let me not characterise anything in the middle of the meeting."
On whether there were any hiccups during the deliberations, Sarna said, "the talks were friendly, very positive and held in a constructive atmosphere" with the aim of carrying the process forward.
Sarna said the two sides exchanged ideas and proposals to take the dialogue process further.
"We are hopeful that the process will move forward," he said.
He said India's draft submitted to Pakistan during the talks on nuclear CBMs needed further work and comments from Islamabad before it can be finalised.
Asked if terrorism figured in the talks, Khan said: "Under peace and security, all issues were discussed and no issue was excluded."
He said the two countries needed to establish mechanisms for resolving "conflicts, disputes and differences", both in nuclear and conventional areas to ensure peace in the region.
Foreign Secretary Riaz H. Khokhar is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit on Monday.
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