New Delhi: India and Pakistan today (Jun 20, 2004) agreed to establish a "dedicated and secure" hotline between their Foreign Secretaries to prevent misunderstandings and reduce risks with regard to nuclear issues.

A joint statement issued after two days of expert level talks on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures said the existing hotline between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) would be "upgraded, dedicated and secured".

"A dedicated and secure hotline would be established between the two Foreign Secretaries, through their respective Foreign Offices to prevent misunderstanding and reduce risks relevant to nuclear issues," the two-page statement said.

Both countries decided to work towards concluding an agreement with technical parameters on pre-notification of flight testing of missiles, a draft of which was handed over by the Indian side.

"Each side reaffirmed its unilateral moratorium on conducting further nuclear explosions unless, in exercise of national sovereignty, it decides that extraordinary events have jeopardised its supreme interests," the statement said adding that both New Delhi and Islamabad were "conscious" of the need to promote a stable environment of peace and security between them.

While Indian delegation to the talks were led by Sheel Kant Sharma, Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, the Pakistani team was headed by Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary in the Pakistan Foreign Office.

The visiting Pakistani delegation had yesterday (Jun 19, 2004) called on External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, National Security Adviser J N Dixit and Foreign Secretary Shashank.

The statement said both countries would continue to engage in bilateral discussions and hold further meetings to work towards implementation of the Lahore Memorandum of Understanding of 1999 reached between then Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif.