No headway in Indo-Pak talks
TNS and agencies

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 — The nine-day second phase of the composite Indo-Pakistan dialogue ended this afternoon with both sides failing to make any headway on issues relating to Siachen, the Tulbul navigation project, Sir Creek maritime boundary dispute and terrorism.

However, the two sides struck a positive note on promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields. The two sides agreed to meet again by November 20 to finalise an agreement on the much-publicised Delhi-Lahore bus service.

Pakistan squarely blamed India for talks failure and once again called for third party intervention to resolve bilateral differences. New Delhi, however, rejected the proposal.

Speaking to mediapersons after the last item on the agenda of the dialogue, promotion of friendly and cultural exchanges, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Tariq Altaf said when the two sides could not resolve their problems bilaterally, the only way out was to have a third party to intervene or mediate.

"We are prepared for any manner of such intervention, whether at the UN or International Court of Justice or any other international forum," he added.

Even as Pakistani officials said they were "totally disappointed" with the outcome of the composite dialogue and accused India of adopting a "rigid and inflexible attitude" in resolving outstanding issues, India expressed satisfaction over the progress at the talks stating that "the process was continuing".

Briefing mediapersons on today’s talks, the Culture Secretary, Dr R.V.V. Aiyar said: "Pakistan informed us that it too had liberalised the visa regime to Indian nationals and would convey to us the details of the relaxation made in this regard."

Dr Aiyar said both sides had agreed that visas for railways and airlines personnel would be granted in a specified timeframe not extending more than 30 days.

"During our meeting today, we proposed detailed and practical suggestions in the field of art and culture, youth affairs, sports, information and media. The Pakistan side informed us that they would examine our proposals in the light of the India-Pakistan cultural agreement of 1988. We look forward to a positive and constructive response from them", Dr Aiyar said.

On the issue of enhanced interaction in the field of media, Dr Aiyar said India had proposed a greater flow of newspapers and periodicals between the two countries.

"We also proposed that both countries facilitate visits of journalists and agree to the posting of more newspapers and news agency correspondents on a reciprocal basis".

"We also dwelt on the bilateral protocol of 1974 on the visits to religious shrines and conveyed the demand of many that the number of shrines located in Pakistan to which visits are permitted be increased and the number of pilgrims allowed on every visit increased."

"We urged Pakistan to consider these proposals. It is most important that during such visits sanctity is maintained so that the sentiments of the pilgrims are not hurt. It is unfortunate that during the course of the visits of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan they have been subjected to hostile anti-India propaganda which takes place within the premises of gurdwaras. We asked Pakistan to take necessary steps to ensure that these activities are not permitted under any circumstances", Dr Aiyar said.

The two sides also discussed the issue of civilian prisoners in the two countries and fishermen who trespass innocently in each other’s territory.

"In this context, we emphasised that necessary steps should be taken to avoid delays and to work out a mechanism to ensure expeditious release and repatriation of innocent fishermen", he said.

"With respect to civilian prisoners, both sides noted that since 1991 there had been no exchange between the two countries. We informed Pakistan that our judicial systems require that any person who has completed his jail term should be released and if he is a foreigner he should be repatriated to his country.

"We have since early this year conveyed to Pakistan on a case-by-case basis through diplomatic channels details of 67 Pakistani civilians ready for repatriation. Twentyone of them have already returned home and repatriation of the remaining Pakistani civilians prisoner is at various stages. "Once formalities are completed they would be repatriated to Pakistan. We proposed that civilian prisoners be repatriated on completion of sentence once travel documents are made available. Both sides agreed that there could be a meeting of officials concerned to ensure that this is done", Dr Aiyar said.

Earlier, a spokesman of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said: "We had come with high hopes for moving forward on resolution of bilateral disputes, met with total disappointment as there was no progress because of inflexibility and rigid attitude of India."

He, however, maintained that Pakistan was keen on resolution of bilateral issues and wanted to "turn a new leaf" as "we don’t want to go to the next century with these issues".

"How long should we remain locked in this lack of progress", he asked asserting that friendship could be established only after just settlement of outstanding issues. He said "once fundamental and core issues are resolved, everything would follow".