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| India, Pakistan to discuss cross-border terror | | | New Delhi | May 10
India is expected to raise the issue of cross-border terrorism and transport links when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visits Islamabad on May 20-21.
It will be India's first high-level contact with Pakistan since the installation of the democratically elected government in Islamabad.
Mukherjee would hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on May 21 during which India was likely to propose increasing the frequency of fortnightly Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot bus services to weekly, a source in the Indian External Affairs Ministry told reporters here Saturday.
India was also likely to demand launching of Kargil (India)-Skardu (Pakistan-administered Kashmir) and Jammu (India)-Sialkot (Pakistan) passenger bus services, the source said.
The two countries would also review the fourth round of Composite Dialogue and progress made on eight issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen Glacier, Sir Creek and cross-border terrorism, the source added.
"We will convey our concerns to Islamabad on the continuing cross-border terrorism and also infiltration by insurgents from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir," the source said. On late Thursday, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt by insurgents into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan. The infiltrating insurgents had launched a major attack on a BSF post along the border. It was the first major incident of firing since India and Pakistan are maintaining a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) from November 2003. LoC divides Indian and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Dates for the next meeting of a joint India-Pakistan anti-terror mechanism could also be fixed at the meeting. The last meeting was here in October 2007.
Ahead of Mukherjee-Qureshi talks, Foreign Secretary of both countries would hold discussions also at Islamabad on May 20. |
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