India-Pakistan talks on Nuclear, Conventional arsenals fail to produce result
By Hayyan Faisal - Pakistan Times Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The second round of experts level talks on Nuclear and Conventional Weapons Confidence Building Measures between Pakistan and India remained inconclusive with Indian side seeking more time to reflect on the text proposed by Pakistan on the agreement of providing prior notification of missile tests.

Official sources said that the two sides discussed the agreement on the advance notification of missile tests agreement extensively and Indians sought more time to study the text of the agreement proposed by Pakistan.

“No you cannot say that there has been any deadlock in the talks,” FO spokesman Masood Khan told a questioner. He said “Indians want some more time to study the text” adding, the two sides have briefly touched the conventional CBMs primarily for understanding of each others position.

“The detailed talks on conventional CBMs will be held later,” said Khan sounding satisfied with day-long brainstorming with Indians on nuclear CBMs.

In-depth

Yet, Pakistan and India Wednesday concluded two-days of talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures with a pledge to move forward the peace process.

"We made some progress on some important issues and we intend to carry on these discussions at the level of Foreign Secretaries and foreign Ministers," Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN&EC) and Meera Shankar, Additional Secretary (UN), Ministry of External Affairs said.

The two sides held two rounds of talks on nuclear CBMs and one on conventional, to prevent misunderstanding and reduce risks of any nuclear accident. The engagement was to have a better understanding and to cut down risks of accidental or unauthorized launching of nuclear weapons.

Pre-notification of flight-testing

When asked about the draft Agreement on pre-notification of flight-testing of missiles, said the two sides held "good discussion on technical parameters and scope of the agreement."

Head of Pakistani delegation said "South Asia is not a nuclear flashpoint ... we (have) made certain gains, there have been advances and time is now to try to consolidate on these."

Hyder said consultations would continue during the Foreign secretary and expert level talks towards an agreement which is to the mutual acceptability and benefit of both the governments and the people.

Meera Shankar on hurdles

When asked whether there were any hurdles in the agreement, Meera Shankar of India said "agreements of this nature are complex and raise many questions and have to be considered in a deliberate way by both sides and resolved in a manner which is mutually acceptable to both. We would continue our discussion," she added.

Hyder said the agreement will be a mere formalization as both countries were already notifying each other of flight tests of missiles. "These agreements are very complex and there are many legal issues. We have to move forward on them, we have to examine them carefully and both sides understand the concerns of each side."

He said both the countries were responding in a constructive manner and the expectations are that further negotiations would move them closer to such an agreement.

Of Hot-line

To a question about upgrading of the hot-line between the two countries, he said, Pakistan and India have already agreed to a dedicated and secure line between the two Foreign secretaries and the Director General Military Operations and discussed its technical parameters. He said "the two sides have exchanged ideas on this issue and we have agreed to operationalize them as soon as possible."

To a question Meera Shankar said both countries have moved forward and put down concepts on how to materialise these agreements. She said they were engaged in very substantive discussions on all aspects of the agreement for the first time which is being done with due respect to others position. "Considerable ground has been covered," she added.

She said there had been constructive engagement on a range of issues that are of concern to both the sides. "We hope to carry on these talks in future at various levels, including at expert level."

Ms Shankar said the two sides had agreed that it was extremely important for both countries to move forward in this area.

Conventional CBMs

The expert level meeting on conventional confidence building measures exchanged views on various proposals on the significance and overall approaches to Conventional CBMs.

Osman Hyder said "India conveyed its views on the conventional CBMs and we have our own concept of strategic restraint regime, which we conveyed to them."

He said both the countries had positive views and were motivated to have peace and security between the two countries. "The objective is to have stable relationship and are exchanging views on that."

He said detailed consultations were held on the early operationalization of the decisions taken during the last round of expert level talks on nuclear CBMs held in New Delhi on 19-20 June.

"Both agreed that future periodic Expert Level talks on Nuclear CBMs would discuss, review and monitor the implementation of Nuclear CBMs as called for by the Lahore MoU of 1999," he said.

FS to meet on Dec 27, 28

Hyder said the progress made in the present round of the talks would be reported to the respective Foreign Secretaries, who are scheduled to meet on December 27-28, and decide on the date and venue of the next expert level meeting on Nuclear CBMs.

The talks come in the wake of an agreement between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India in September last.

Pakistan was led by M. Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN&EC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Arun Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Eternal Affairs, led the Indian side.

The Indian delegation for the talks on nuclear CBMs was led by Ms Meera Shankar, Additional Secretary (UN), Ministry of Eternal Affairs.

Joint survey of Sir Creek on Jan-3

Meanwhile, dialogue between India and Pakistan over Sir Creek issue, which opened in Rawalpindi on Tuesday concluded Wednesday on a consensus for kicking off joint survey of the area from January-3 of next year.

Pakistani delegation led by surveyor general Pakistan Maj. Gen. Jamil-ur-Rehman Afridi and Indian delegation led by deputy surveyor general India Brig. Graish Kumar took a detailed review of the technical matters about the Sir Creek.

Both the sides also pondered over modus operandi of the survey of area of the Sir Creek and in the dialogues it was decided that following the joint survey experts of India and Pakistan would present reports to their respective governments.

Indian delegation also held a meeting here with additional secretary of defence ministry, Rear Admiral Ehsan-ul-Haq Chowdery.●