Indo-Pak officials discuss Kashmir-related CBMs

Islamabad, Jul 19 (PTI) Indian and Pakistani officials
met here Friday to discuss Kashmir-related confidence-building
measures, including steps to facilitate travel and trade
across the Line of Control (LoC).

The meeting of the Working Group on cross-Line of Control
Confidence Building Meaures (C.B.M.s), earlier scheduled to be
held on July 10, was postponed as the official who was to lead
the Indian side had gone to Afghanistan in wake of the suicide
bombing at the Indian embassy in Kabul.

Besides measures to facilitate travel and trade across
the LoC, the two countries discussed new Kashmir-related
C.B.M.s and the launch of a truck service between Srinagar in
Jammu and Kashmir and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir, sources said.

The Working Group also reviewed existing trans-LoC bus
services, they said.

The meeting came ahead of talks between the foreign
secretaries of the two countries in New Delhi during July
21-22, to launch the fifth round of the composite dialogue.

The Pakistani delegation was headed by Aizaz Ahmed
Chaudhry, Director General (South Asia and SAARC) while the
Indian side was led by T C A Raghavan, Joint Secretary in the
External Affairs Ministry.

The Working Group met in pursuance of a decision taken
during the meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here on
May 21 to review fourth round of the composite dialogue
process.

The first meeting of the Working Group was held in New
Delhi in May 2006. PTI