NEW DELHI: Their differences over Kashmir notwithstanding, India and Pakistan Wednesday (Sept 8) announced 13 far-reaching confidence building measures (CBMs) that could redefine their bilateral ties.

The new CBMs covered areas as diverse as conventional and nuclear fields to discussions on de-escalation of tension on Siachen, the Himalayan glacier dubbed as the world's highest battlefield, enhanced people-to-people contact through promotion of tourism to a bus service between the divided parts of Kashmir and a rail link between India's Gujarat state and Pakistan's Sindh province.

The CBMs were announced in a joint statement on the talks between External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri who met here for two days from Sunday and reviewed the progress of the composite dialogue that the two countries initiated early this year to normalise relations.

"The foreign ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far, and positively assessed the developments in bilateral relations over the past year," the statement said.

It said they agreed that the two foreign secretaries would meet in December to discuss overall progress of the eight-point composite dialogue, including "Peace and Security including CBMs, and Jammu and Kashmir."

"They would also work out the schedule of meetings on the other six subjects, ranging from Siachen to a dispute over navigation in Wullar lake in Jammu and Kashmir and Sir Creek to terrorism and drug trafficking and economic and commercial cooperation.

Though differences remained over Kashmir and both sides forcefully reiterated their respective positions on the issue during the talks, it was clear from the joint statement that they would not allow that to hamstrung progress in other areas.

While the joint statement did not make any specific reference to Jammu and Kashmir, it said both sides "reiterated their commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and their determination to implement the Simla Agreement in letter and spirit."

"Recalling the reassurance contained in the Joint Press Statement of January 6, 2004, they exchanged views on carrying the (composite dialogue) process forward in an atmosphere free from terrorism and violence," it added.

It said the ministers held detailed and substantive discussions and reiterated the confidence that the composite dialogue will lead to peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both sides.

"They agreed to continue with the serious and sustained dialogue to find a peaceful negotiated final settlement. They expressed their determination to take the process forward," it added.

The statement noted that the Pakistan foreign minister called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and met National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit and said the two sides agreed to continue high level meetings and visits.

It noted that Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September and that Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would visit India in November in his capacity as the chairperson of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Manmohan Singh and Musharraf would again meet in Dhaka in January on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit.

Significantly, the two sides "recognized the importance of availability and access to energy resources in the region around South Asia," a reference to possible cooperation in a gas pipeline project to transport Iranian natural gas to India through Pakistan.

The statement said the petroleum and natural gas ministers could meet to discuss the issue in its "multifarious dimensions."

The following were nine CBMs announced in the joint statement:

-- Expert level meetings on conventional and nuclear CBMs, including discussions on a draft agreement on advance notification of missile tests;

-- Meeting between railway authorities for establishing a rail link between Munnabao in Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Sindh.

-- Biannual meeting between Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers in October.

-- Meeting between narcotics control authorities, including for finalisation of an MoU in October-November;

-- Meeting between the Indian Coast Guards and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency in November to, among others, discuss the MoU for establishing communication link between them;

-- Establishment of a committee of experts to consider issues related to trade;

-- Implementation of the agreement reached between the defence secretaries in their talks in August to discuss "modalities for disengagement and redeployment" on Siachen, the Himalayan glacier that is the highest battlefield in the world;

-- Joint survey of the boundary pillars in the horizontal segment (blue dotted line) of the international boundary in the Sir Creek area, a muddy estuary that separates Gujarat from Sindh

-- Meeting on all issues related to commencement of a bus service between Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir.

-- Add a new category of tourist visa in the visa regime between the two countries, and to promote group tourism;

-- Set up a mechanism to deal with the issue of civilian prisoners and fishermen, effectively and speedily;

--Measures for facilitation of visits to religious shrines, and upkeep of historical sites; and

-- Enhanced interaction and exchanges among the respective foreign offices, including study tours of young diplomats/probationers to each other's country.

Indo-Asian News Service