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India and Pakistan pledge talks | India and Pakistan pledge talks |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The leaders of India and Pakistan have agreed to resume peace talks following months of strained relations between the two countries. | The leaders of India and Pakistan have agreed to resume peace talks following months of strained relations between the two countries. |
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said they would organise the talks within three months. | Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said they would organise the talks within three months. |
The two men met in New York, on the fringes of the UN General Assembly. | The two men met in New York, on the fringes of the UN General Assembly. |
They also said that trade across the Line of Control which divides disputed Kashmir would begin next month. | |
In a joint statement, the two men acknowledged "the peace process has been under strain in recent months". | |
"They agreed that violence, hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share of the bilateral relationship, and must be visibly and verifiably prevented," the statement went on. | "They agreed that violence, hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share of the bilateral relationship, and must be visibly and verifiably prevented," the statement went on. |
Two trade routes across the de facto border in Kashmir will open on 21 October to help improve relations, the statement said. | |
The routes will operate respectively between Srinagar and Poonch in Indian-administered Kashmir, and Muzaffarabad and Rawalkot on the Pakistani-controlled side of the LoC. | |
A third route between Kargil and Skardu is also to be discussed. | |
At the moment a passenger bus service operates across the LoC twice a month. Trade over the de facto border was a major demand by Muslims during recent protests in Indian-administered Kashmir. | |
'Anti-terror' meeting | 'Anti-terror' meeting |
This was Mr Singh's first meeting with Mr Zardari, since the widower of Benazir Bhutto replaced Pervez Musharraf as Pakistan's president earlier this month. | |
The two leaders said they were directing their foreign secretaries to "schedule meetings of the fifth round of the composite dialogue in the next three months". | The two leaders said they were directing their foreign secretaries to "schedule meetings of the fifth round of the composite dialogue in the next three months". |
The so-called composite dialogue encompasses eight topics, including the economy, border disputes and terrorism, as well as Kashmir. | The so-called composite dialogue encompasses eight topics, including the economy, border disputes and terrorism, as well as Kashmir. |
Although the nuclear rivals have made significant progress on a number of issues during the last four years of talks, they have made little headway on key issues such as Kashmir. | Although the nuclear rivals have made significant progress on a number of issues during the last four years of talks, they have made little headway on key issues such as Kashmir. |
And relations have been tense since India accused "elements of Pakistan" of involvement in the July bombing of its embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul - allegations Pakistan denies. | And relations have been tense since India accused "elements of Pakistan" of involvement in the July bombing of its embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul - allegations Pakistan denies. |
The bombing would be discussed at a special meeting of a joint anti-terror mechanism being convened next month, the statement said. | The bombing would be discussed at a special meeting of a joint anti-terror mechanism being convened next month, the statement said. |
Both leaders also held talks with the Republican Party's vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. | Both leaders also held talks with the Republican Party's vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. |