Asif Ali Zardari, Manmohan Agree To Resume Talks

Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 9:53 am

NEW YORK: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari agreed after summit talks on Wednesday to resume their strained peace process be scheduling a new round of talks by year’s end.

The two leaders directed their foreign secretaries to “schedule meetings of the fifth round of the composite dialogue in the next three months,” a joint statement said after the talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Both leaders acknowledged that the peace process has been under strain in recent months,” the statement said.

Singh and Zardari agreed to convene a special meeting of a joint anti-terror mechanism next month to address concerns including the bombing of India’s Embassy in Afghanistan in July, which killed 41 people and which the Indians blamed on Pakistani agents.

“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,” said the statement.

The nuclear-armed rivals’ so-called composite dialogue covers eight areas including the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, border disputes, terrorism and economic cooperation.

The neighbors launched peace efforts in 2004 after nearly going to war a fourth time over Islamist militant attacks in India linked to a nearly 20-year revolt against Indian rule in Kashmir which Pakistan supports, at least politically.

While ties have warmed, the two sides have made no significant progress on their dispute over the Muslim-majority region they both claim.

It was reported that India is committed to implementing the Indus Water Treaty that allows equitable distribution of water, after President Asif Ali Zardari sought an early action on the issue of reduction of water in river Chenab at his meeting with Indian Prime Minister.

“The Indus Water Treaty will be implemented in letter and spirit. It is the obligation of the Government of India. And we (will) invite the Indus Water Commissioner soon after Eid to look after the situation,” Singh told President Zardari during the meeting.

The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing treaty between Pakistan and India which was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960. The World Bank is a signatory as a third party.

The Indus System of Rivers comprises three Western Rivers – the Indus, the Jhelum and Chenab and three Eastern Rivers – the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi.

In the hour-long meeting, the two leaders pledged to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir dispute and vowed to continue the peace process for bringing lasting peace to the region.

The meeting, held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere covered wide range of issues, including the peace process, terrorism and other disputes that were hampering return to normal relations between the two countries.

President Zardari said he was working for poverty alleviation and economic development in South Asia.

Manmohan said all outstanding issues can be resolved through peaceful dialogue. “We discussed all aspects of our relations – trade, Jammu and Kashmir, we are not afraid of word K (Kashmir).”

Asif Ali Zardari, Manmohan Agree To Resume Talks

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