To broaden talks, Natwar goes to Pak with 5-ministry team

Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri will review the progress made in the composite dialogue on October 3 with New Delhi looking to discuss the idea of a mutually agreed verification mechanism for Siachen glacier. The two leaders are also expected to sign the agreement on pre-notification of missile tests

India will push for movement on confidence building measures proposed in Jammu and Kashmir. This includes announcing a timeframe for technical talks for the Poonch-Rawalkot bus, plying trucks across the LoC and also increasing the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.

The last time the joint commission met in 1989, there was an in-principle agreement by both sides to increase to eight the number of places for which visas are granted. This, however, could not be implemented. Even now, visas are usually granted for not more than three places.

While such measures will come up for review, the broader focus will be on lending structure to the commission. Earlier, the commission had four sub-committees. Now there are indications that Agriculture and Civil Aviation may be added to the list.