Monday, December 27 2004 11:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan today (Dec 27, 2004) began talks under the second round of the Composite Dialogue process to resolve differences over Jammu and Kashmir and seven other outstanding issues.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Khokhar along with their official delegations met in Islamabad to hold two-day talks on issues listed in the Composite Dialogue process and others like resolution of differences over travel documents to run the bus service between Srinagar and Muzafarabad.

Under the Composite Dialogue structure, the Foreign Secretaries have been assigned to discuss Jammu and Kashmir, peace and security and Confidence Building Measures.

Besides holding talks on these issues, they are also expected to finalise a calendar of events for official level talks on issues like Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, Terrorism and Drug Trafficking, Economic and Commercial Cooperation and promotion of Friendly exchanges in various fields.

The two countries held the first round of the Composite Dialogue process early this year with little success following which they agreed to hold the second round.

Ahead of today's talks, Saran and Khokhar met over dinner last night (Dec 26, 2004) and held informal talks to outline the broad contours of the talks for the second round.

Saran arrived here last evening from North West Frontier Province's capital Peshawar.

Ahead of formal talks, Pakistan yesterday indicated that it would put forward some formal proposals on the nuclear and conventional CBMs as well as to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan said that evolution of proposals is a joint responsibility of both the sides which "we shall try to hear each other out and try to move forward".

India was expected to make new proposals to further liberalise visa regime to grant visas for 65-year-olds and children below 12 years on arrival at Wagah border.

Besides the listed agenda, the two officials were expected to discuss resolution of differences to run the Srinagar-Muzzafarbad bus to connect both sides of Kashmir. India wants the passenger documents to include passport and special permits whereas Pakistan wants only special permits and confine the travel only to Kashmiris.

The two Foreign Secretaries were also expected to discuss differences of the construction of hydropower project by India on the Chenab river at Baglihar in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan accuses India of violating the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which India firmly denies.