Defence Secretary-level talks between India, Pak likely in May

New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) India and Pakistan are likely
to resume Defence Secretary-level talks in May where they will
discuss a number of issues including demilitarisation of the
world's highest battlefield - Siachen Glacier, and Sir Creek.
"The dates for the Defence Secretary-level talks are
yet to be finalised but they are most likely to be held next
month," Indian Defence Ministry sources said here.
The dialogue at this level on the issues of Siachen
and Sir Creek would be resumed after four years, though both
sides have maintained a ceasefire since November 2003.
The bone of contention in the negotiations between the
two sides, however, has been the "delineation" of the 110-km
Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) beyond the NJ-9842
reference point, where the Line of Control simply stopped in
the 1972 Shimla Pact, up to the Karakoram Pass.
India has been pressing for authenticating the AGPL,
both on the map and the ground, as its troops occupy most of
the dominating posts on the Saltoro Ridge, before there is
troop disengagement, withdrawal and the final demilitarisation
of the glacier.
Sources in the Indian Army said demand for such an
arrangement would be made to delineate the AGPL before any
agreement for withdrawal of troops is reached between the two
countries.
Both India and Pakistan maintain a Brigade-level
presence across the 6,300-metre glacier where weather
conditions and icy terrain claim more lives than bullets.
The Sir Creek dispute lies in the interpretation of
the maritime boundary line between Kutch in India and Sindh in
Pakistan.
Talks between the Home Secretaries of the two
countries have already been held, and their Commerce
Secretaries are meeting on April 29.