New Delhi: India today made it clear that Pakistan should act "unambiguously" to end cross-border terrorism as the two countries vowed to push their bilateral ties through a number of measures, including cross-LoC initiatives.

During talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi here, the two sides agreed that the Composite Dialogue is a useful forum to address all bilateral issues and decided to launch its 5th round from July 21.

The two sides will also work out "shortly" the dates for the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan. They agreed to hold the meeting of Technical Working Groups on cross-LoC Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) on July 10 in Islamabad to "concretise" decisions regarding bus services, trade and truck services.

The cross-LoC proposals include operationalisation of truck service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, increasing frequency of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot passenger bus services and launch of Kargil-Skardu bus service.

The two countries also agreed on setting up an institutional mechanism for regular dialogue between their Planning Commissions and discuss the possibility of cooperation in wind and thermal power sector as well as mass rapid transport system, like Metro rail.

Noting that timing was right to build the ties, both sides expressed commitment to developing "peace, friendship and good neighbourly relations", particularly through enhancement of cooperation in economic and trade fields and people-to-people contacts.
Source : PTI