NEW DELHI, 19 April 2005 — Turning their back on the failed Agra Summit (2001), India and Pakistan pledged yesterday not to allow terrorism to impede the “irreversible” peace process that they have been engaged in over the past 14 months.
Even though India and Pakistan still entertain different stands regarding the Kashmir issue, their agreement to address the problem in a “purposeful and forward looking manner” for a final settlement marks a major upswing in their relations. This crucial breakthrough was given a formal shape through a joint statement yesterday.
With President Pervez Musharraf at his side, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh read out the joint statement at Hyderabad House, that was also the venue of their crucial talks on Sunday.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress of their talks, to “bring the benefit of peace to their people,” the two leaders “agreed to pursue further measures to enhance interaction and cooperation across the LOC.”
Condemning attempts to disrupt the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the two leaders “pledged that they would not allow terrorism to impede the peace process.”
Apart from increasing the frequency of the bus service, they agreed that “trucks would be allowed to use this route to promote trade,” the statement said.
“They also agreed to operationalize additional routes including that between Poonch and Rawalakot. They also look forward to an early start of the bus service between Amritsar and Lahore and to religious places such as Nankana Sahib.” “They agreed to re-establish the Khokhrapar-Munnabao (rail) route by Jan. 1, 2006,” the statement said.
Before the end of the current year, the two leaders “agreed that the consulates general of the two countries in Bombay and Karachi would be opened,” according to the statement.
Regarding the contentious issues of Sir Creek and Siachen, “they instructed that the existing institutional mechanisms should convene discussions immediately with a view to finding mutually acceptable solutions to both issues expeditiously.”
They agreed that ministers of petroleum and natural gas would meet in May “to explore cooperation in the sector including on the issue of pipelines.”
Enhanced “economic and commercial cooperation would contribute to the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and bring a higher level of prosperity for the region,” the statement said.
