India, Pakistan agree to continue Siachen talks

After two days of discussions, Pakistan and India said on Friday they had agreed to continue talks about their standoff over Siachen but ann...

After two days of discussions, Pakistan and India said on Friday they had agreed to continue talks about their standoff over Siachen but announced no concrete progress.

Officials from both countries met in Rawalpindi after Pakistani calls for demilitarisation of Siachen. ‘‘The two sides held frank and constructive discussions with a view to taking the process forward,’’ a joint statement said. ‘‘They express satisfaction at the ceasefire currently in place since November 2003 and agreed to its continuation…It was agreed by the two defence secretaries to continue with their discussions to resolve the Siachen issue in a peaceful manner.’’

‘‘We have exchanged ideas and tried to understand one another’s position and there were discussions that we have carried out and we will continue to carry them forward,’’ Pakistani Defence secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi said.

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His Indian counterpart, Ajai Vikram Singh, said the talks had been held in a cordial atmosphere and a personal understanding had developed. ‘‘All that is definitely a movement forward,’’ he said, adding that various possibilities had been discussed for the first time. ‘‘So therefore, there has definitely been movement.’’

Neither official elaborated on the nature of discussions.

Both sides expressed optimism on the eve of the talks, but India has stressed on verifying the two armies’ actual positions before moving on phased withdrawal of troops. Pakistan has so far resisted the suggestion, saying India has taken the ground through aggression. The talks will be followed at the weekend by two days of talks on demarcation of Sir Creek. — Reuters

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