Saturday, July 23 2005 16:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Giving a further boost to the ongoing peace process, India was considering joint expedition with Pakistan in mountaineering, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today (July 23, 2005).

"A joint mountaineering expedition is being contemplated with Pakistan. It is going to be yet another area of cooperation between the two countries," he said.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the plans for the first of such cooperation between the two neighbours in mountaineering expedition.

Besides the joint expedition with Pakistan, India would also offer training to youth from SAARC countries.

Addressing the 27th annual General Body meeting of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Darjeeling), Mukherjee, President of HMI, said the institute has prepared a programme and course to train youngsters from SAARC countries.

''The programme course for SAARC countries has been prepared and will be operational soon,'' he said.

Mukherjee earlier held discussions with Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, the Vice President of HMI, at the Executive Council meeting of the prestigious institute.

The decisions taken by the executive council included formation of a small group to amend the constitution of HMI, which was drafted 51 years ago, opening of the new mountaineering museum and hostel facilities for trainees.

It was also decided to induct the state Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Subhas Chakraborty as a member of the executive council.