At least one of the issues identified in the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India has been resolved, and its work on ground completed ahead of the schedule decided by the two countries. In an opening statement at his weekly press briefing here on Monday, Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said the verification of existing boundary pillars along the horizontal segment in the Sir Creek area has been achieved. He said the work was started by eight teams from the two countries on January 5, and expected to take three to four weeks, adding that surveyors discharged their mandate in less than 10 days.
The surveyors were not drawing up a joint statement to presentation to the experts who will discuss it in the next round of talks between them, he said. The spokesman did not mention a date for the meeting of experts, but it may be between now and coming July when the results of the Third Round will be reviewed by the foreign secretaries and then by foreign ministers.
The new schedule of eight Working Groups was under finalisation and may be available after the Eid holidays.
Acceptance of the re-surveyed boundary pillars in the Sir Creek will help remove one of the major causes of heartburn between the two countries and caution fishermen from either country not to stray in adverse waters.