Tuesday, August 30 2005 14:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India and Pakistan may consider a changed format to carry forward the dialogue process to address all outstanding issues at the Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad on September one, two weeks ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran will leave for Islamabad tomorrow (Aug 30, 2005) on a three-day visit for the talks with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Muhammad Khan in what will essentially be a stocktaking exercise of the current status of Indo-Pak ties.

Official sources here said the Foreign Secretaries would meet for a 'wrap-up' session of the second round of the Composite Dialogue process.

They would now assess the progress made during the second round of the dialogue, take stock of the relationship and outline the course to move forward the dialogue process, the sources said.

Ahead of his meeting, Saran said there has been 'noticeable progress' in some of the issues discussed under the composite dialogue framework.

"So, perhaps, the composite dialogue will still need to be carried on in future as well, but perhaps, in somewhat of a changed format," he said.

Saran said no definitive decisions have been taken on this issue.

"I think we really need to have a fuller exchange of views in Islamabad when I am there".

During talks, the Indian side is likely to press for speedy handing over of fugitives taking shelter in Pakistan and raise issue of release of civilian and other prisoners.

The parleys come ahead of the meeting between Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York on September 14 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

As part of the ongoing high-level contacts, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid M Kasuri in Islamabad on October four.

The handing over of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim has already been taken up with Islamabad but Pakistan has maintained that he was not staying in that country.

The second round was initiated by Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on December 27-28 in Islamabad, when they discussed two of the subjects of Composite Dialogue peace and security, including confidence-building measures and Jammu and Kashmir.

Meetings on the other five subjects under the Composite Dialogue framework Siachen, Tulbul Navigation Project, Sir Creek, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields have been held since May this year.

Home Secretaries of the two countries have held extensive discussions on the sixth subject of terrorism and drug trafficking.

The SAARC Standing Committee scheduled on August 17

The two Foreign Secretaries earlier planned to meet on the sidelines of the SAARC Standing Committee scheduled to be held in Islamabad on August 17. It was, however, put off due to assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in Colombo.

The issue of transit facility for Indian goods to Afghanistan, Gulf and Central Asia via Pakistan may again come up.

Pakistan has insisted that allowing the proposed 7.4 billion dollar Iran-India gas pipeline through its territory was a 'stand alone' decision and could not be clubbed with other spheres.

Despite India making out a strong case that it will be a win-win situation for both countries to allow such transit facilities, Pakistan has stuck to the line this would not be allowed unless the 'core issue of Kashmir' was resolved.

In line with this, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was quoted as saying in Lahore on Saturday that "We will have to move in tandem with the core issue of J and K".

During talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Sunday, the Prime Minister had emphasised that Pakistan should come on board on the transit issue.

On the issue of release of civilian prisoners including fishermen, India has highlighted the need to address it from a humanitarian angle.

New Delhi has agreed to release a very large number of Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails for which the verification process was underway.

Under it, the Pakistani side, which has been given consular access to these people, has to verify that these are Pakistani nationals and it was willing to take them back.