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FO says Pakistan, India talks cordialISLAMABAD, August 05 : Foreign Office spokesman Naeem Khan said on Friday that first round of Pakistani and Indian expert-level talks in on nuclear confidence building measures (CBMs) held in a cordial atmosphere in New Delhi.
The two-day talks are aimed at reducing the risks of nuclear conflict.
The spokesman that he is hopeful that talks will produce results.
He said the talks will continue on Saturday and a joint statement will be issued at the end of the talks.
Khan said the two sides discussed a number of proposals including pre-notification of missile tests.
A formal agreement on pre-flight testing of missiles and the establishment of a hotline between the foreign secretaries of the two countries are under discussion.
The Pakistani delegation was headed by Tariq Osman Hyder, additional secretary in the Foreign Office while Indian side was led by Meera Shankar, additional secretary in the external affairs ministry.
This is the third round of dialogue between the experts on nuclear CBMs since the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan was resumed in 2004.
The last two meetings were held in June 2004 in New Delhi and December 2004 in Islamabad.
The bilateral talks would also deal with proposals for upgrading of the existing hotline between the Pakistani and Indian directors general of military operations and exchange of nuclear doctrines.
Talks on conventional CBMs would be held on Monday.