New Delhi: Taking the peace process further, India and Pakistan today (Aug 3, 2004) began two-day official level talks on promotion of friendly exchanges, which is one of the eight points in the composite dialogue process.

While the eight-member Pakistani side is being led by Syed Jalil Abbas, Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Religious Minority and Youth Affairs, Union Culture Secretary Neena Ranjan led the Indian delegation at the parleys.

The Pakistani delegation included senior officials in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Religious Affairs and Information while the Indian side also comprised officials from the ministries of Culture, Home, Information Technology among others, sources said.

The parleys are understood to focus on enhancing people-to-people contacts in fields like secondary education, science and technology, youth affairs and sports.

Sources said the talks are also likely to discuss the liberalising of visa regime between the two nations, easing visa access to journalists, intellectuals and tourists.

After the talks on Friendly Exchanges, a high-power Pakistan delegation headed by its Defence Secretary would be in New Delhi to discuss Siachen on August 5-6.