Yes to creek survey, slow melt on Siachen

In a joint statement issued today after talks between External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Khurshid M Kasuri, it was stated that both sides ‘‘exchanged ideas on the Siachen issue’’ and agreed to continue discussions to reach a ‘‘common understanding before the commencement of the next round of the composite dialogue in January next year’’.

In remarks after reading the statement, Kasuri said ‘‘concrete ideas’’ that were exchanged during the talks on both Siachen and Sir Creek ‘‘create the possibility of resolution of these issues’’. He declined to elaborate but underlined that the two sides had moved further otherwise ‘‘I wouldn’t have made the remarks I did’’.

It’s learnt that the understanding on the parameters covering four aspects— verification, disengagement, redeployment and identifying the line north of NJ 9842—was almost reached last evening with the two sides exchanging drafts of the joint statement. The Pakistani side returned the Indian draft late at night and India handed it over back this morning with its observations.

Matters were on course until Pakistan pointed out that it had some reservations on India’s using the phrase ‘‘joint verification mechanism’’. This was apparently communicated last night by the Pakistanis in their remarks. New Delhi has maintained that unless the mode of verification has sanction of both countries, it will leave room for differences.

Natwar Singh discussed the issue with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is said to have explained Islamabad’s viewpoint, during their 40-minute meeting. He welcomed the ongoing diplomatic negotiations towards a ‘‘framework for settlement of the issues on a mutually acceptable basis’’.

Soon after the meeting, sources said, Natwar and Kasuri had an unscheduled one-on-one meeting to work a way out of the deadlock. Given that a framework is a must for the issue to progress in the third round of the composite dialogue and in the backdrop of the fact that the two sides had indeed narrowed down their differences, both leaders agreed to arrive at a common understanding before January next year.

As reported by The Indian Express yesterday, India had suggested working out the parameters for future negotiations that would cover the following aspects:

• Mutually agreed verification mechanism. India is flexible on the method, including satellite imagery

• Zone of disengagement. Both sides will have to agree on not letting any other activity take place in this zone like mountaineering expeditions

• Redeployment of troops

• To clarify the Line of Control north of point NJ 9842. Here the 1949 Karachi agreement does not specify beyond this point stating ‘‘thence north to the glaciers’’