NEW DELHI, 7 September 2004 — India and Pakistan stuck to their guns on the Kashmir issue as the foreign ministers of the two countries concluded their talks yesterday on what was described as a “positive note.”
Addressing a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, Indian Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh said that some progress was made during their talks. “Even modest progress is worthy of respect,” Natwar said. “We have made progress in the past two days. My friend, Foreign Minister Kasuri, and I have established rapport and mutual trust.”
However, Natwar said: “Cross-border terrorism remains a serious concern and I have reiterated that concern to Mr. Kasuri.”
He said the current cease-fire on the Kashmir border had helped improve relations. “The first round of composite dialogue has concluded successfully.”
Kasuri said though Islamabad was ready to talk on all issues between the two countries, Kashmir was Pakistan’s primary concern. “Of course, he (Natwar) expressed his concerns and I expressed mine.”
Kasuri also referred to the “human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir.” During the talks, Kasuri said: “I emphasized the centrality of Jammu and Kashmir. I told him we are not unifocal... There are areas where we can cooperate.” While accepting that there are complex and difficult issues, Kasuri said: “But they are not intractable.”
While the ministers announced a short list of agreements, there was no breakthrough. They agreed to hold “technical level” talks in October or November on a railway line linking India’s Rajasthan with Pakistan’s Sindh province. Coast guards and maritime security forces will hold talks to establish communication links, while experts will meet again to discuss proposals for nuclear and conventional weapons “confidence-building measures.” The two foreign ministries will issue a detailed joint statement on their talks on Sept. 8.
