Pakistan and India are expected to announce the dates on Wednesday for starting of truck service for intra-Kashmir trade and launching Poonch-Rawalakot bus service in June and July respectively.
The two sides held extensive discussion on the first day of the two-day talks on the agenda items including opening of meeting points along the Line of Control, leader of Pakistan delegation and Director General (SA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Syed Ibne Abbas told APP.
The talks on the first day have been very positive and there was ample progress on starting truck service, he said expressing hope the mandate given by leaders of the both sides would be implemented.
At the parleys, Pakistan's delegation was headed by Syed Ibne Abbas, Director General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indian side was led by Dilip Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs.
Responding to a question, DG South Asia said that President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had decided during Summit Talks in April last year that truck service and bus service would be started to facilitate the people of Kashmir.
To another question, Ibne-Abbas told that truck service for trade and Poonch-Rawalakot bus service would be started shortly, adding the dates are likely to be indicated in the Joint Statement, to be issued on Wednesday.
All the three agenda items including establishing of two meeting points on each side along the LoC were also deliberated upon in an expansive fashion during the first day of the parleys.
Deputy High Commissioner to India Munawar Saeed who also attended the talks said that Azad Jammu and Kashmir was ready to import the Kashmiri products after the launch of truck service on zero customs duty to alleviate the economic hardships of the Kashmiri People.