Wednesday, August 31 2005 15:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: India and Pakistan will review the progress of the second round of the Composite Dialogue process and chalk out the future course of the peace manoeuvres during the two-day Foreign Secretary level talks beginning in Islamabad tomorrow(Sept 1, 2005).

Ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan will review the progress made on the eight issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, mentioned in the Composite Dialogue framework.

The two sides may also consider a changed format to carry forward the process to address all outstanding issues.

Asserting that there has been 'noticeable progress' in some of the issues discussed under the composite dialogue framework, Saran had yesterday (Aug 30, 2005) said in Delhi that "Perhaps, the composite dialogue will still need to be carried on in future as well, but perhaps, in somewhat of a changed format."

Besides reviewing the progress made on key issues like Jammu and Kashmir, peace and security, Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), Siachen and Sir Creek, they will also take stock of the relationship and outline the course to move forward the dialogue process.

They were also expected to prepare the agenda and ground work for the Manmohan-Musharraf meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly annual session in New York next month.

Officials from both the countries admit that the second round of the dialogue process, unlike the first, made some significant strides, especially on Kashmir.

The meeting comes close with a decision by Home Secretaries

The meeting comes close on the heels of a decision by Home Secretaries of both the countries to release all fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentence.

The second round of the dialogue process would formally end after talks between External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid M Kasuri scheduled to held here from October 3.

Under the terms of the process agreed to by both the countries, the talks would be reviewed both by Foreign Secretaries and Foreign Ministers.

The two secretaries would decide whether to take the dialogue process to the third round or reactivate the India-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission to discuss the same issues.

India apparently was open to both the ideas.

Saran, who is also expected to meet Kasuri, would focus on the issue of cross border terrorism in his talks with Pakistan officials as India has been saying that infiltration has increased after a relative lull for several months.

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

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.