Terrorism part of schedule in Indo-Pak talks: SM Krishna

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that threat will be on the schedule in forthcoming talks between India and Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI:India and Pakistan are set to unveil specific cross-Kashmir and nuclear confidence-building measures (CBMs) when their foreign ministers meet in New Delhi on July 26-27 amid an improved atmosphere to extend the resumed peace process, Economic Times newspaper reported on Friday.

The dialogue between the foreign ministers will be preceded by a merging of foreign secretaries and separate meetings of functional groups on cross-border and nuclear CBMs, and tackling terror agreed during the dialogue in Islamabad last month.

Pakistan`s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir is expected to do to New Delhi on July 25 to see his counterpart Nirupama Rao, setting the schedule for the dialogue between the foreign ministers. Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, is expected to do to New Delhi for dialogue with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

All issues will be on the table, including terrorism and Kashmir, Indian government sources told Economic Times. Unlike the foreign minister-level talks that broke down last year and degenerated into mutual recrimination, talks are being held this time round amid growing recognition that both countries must keep dialogue process going. The work was resumed in February after more than two days of freeze following 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Before foreign ministers ministers, India and Pakistan will receive a confluence of their working group on new CBMs for expanding trade and move across Line of Control (LoC in disputed Kashmir). Pakistan delegation on cross-border CBMs will be led by Zehra H. Akbari, Director General South Asia Division. Y.K. Sinha, joint secretary in point of Pakistan, Afghanistan & Iran, is expected to conduct Indian team.

CBMs being discussed between two sides include launch of Kargil-Skardu bus link, increasing frequency of cross-LoC bus connection between Srinagar & Muzaffarabad and growth in list of trading days across the LoC. Cross-Kashmir CBMs are probably to be proclaimed by the foreign ministers July 27.

There will likewise be separate meeting of functional group on nuclear CBMs, to be led by India`s Venkatesh Verma, joint secretary in point of disarmament & Pakistan`s Irfan Yusuf Shami, Director General Disarmament Division in foreign office. Besides CBMS, two sides are busy in intense negotiations for agreement on liberalizing visa regime. This could be sealed during foreign ministers meeting.

Clinton to see India in July for strategic talks

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to see India next month for strategic negotiation with Indian leaders, a spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry said on Friday.

The US secretary of land will be traveling to New Delhi to assist the second India-US Strategic Dialogue on July 19 after she presided over the foremost such meeting between the world`s two largest democracies last year.

"We are running on a plan" for Clinton`s visit, foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told AFP.

Prakash did not enlarge on the subjects to be addressed during Clinton`s visit but regional security was expected to be high on the agenda.

India has long accused neighbouring Pakistan of harbouring militant groups and analysts say it is becoming increasingly concerned that growing unrest in Pakistan could compromise the safety of the country`s nuclear arsenal.