Pakistan, India agree to keep pushing for Kashmir peace

The agreements came during the first formal talks between the nuclear-armed rivals on disputed Kashmir in two-and-a-half years.Indias foreign secretary said her country remains concerned about the threat of terrorism, but is committed to pushing forward on peace talks with Pakistan.Nirupama Rao made the comments after two days of meetings in Islamabad between delegations.Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said the two sides hope to find common ground in the weeks ahead. Both sides agreed to meet again in New Delhi ahead of ministerial talks next month.A carefully worded joint statement listed among other things a commitment to meet again in New Delhi, at a date yet to be announced, to prepare for a pre-arranged foreign ministers meeting.The statement said talks were frank and cordial and that both sides intended to continue dialogue in a constructive and purposeful manner.The joint statement further read: The talks were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. Both sides reiterated their intention to carry forward the dialogue process in a constructive and purposeful manner.The Foreign Secretaries exchanged views on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward looking manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences.Both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the Working Group on Cross-LoC CBMs to recommend measures for strengthening and streamlining the existing trade and travel arrangements across the LoC and propose modalities for introducing additional Cross-LoC CBMs. The Working Group will meet in July 2011.Both sides agreed to the need for promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries. They noted with satisfaction the progress made towards finalization of the Visa Agreement which will help liberalize the visa regime and facilitate people-to-people, business-to-business and sports contacts.The first session of the secretary level talks between Pakistan and India has concluded in Islamabad in which the two sides discussed Kashmir issue.In the afternoon meeting, the two sides will discuss ways and means to enhance bilateral exchange of friendly delegations.Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir is leading the Pakistani delegation with assistance of Foreign Office Spokesperson Tehmina Janjua, South Asia Director General Zuhara Akbari and director for Indian affairs Aysha Farooqi.The Indian side is headed by Nirupama Rao and accompanied by Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal and Joint Secretary for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran Yash Sinha.Meanwhile, the Indian foreign office spokesman has termed the secretary-level talks as positive.