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Indian and Pakistani diplomats hold key Islamabad talks India and Pakistan in nuclear confidence-building vow
(1 day later)
Senior diplomats from India and Pakistan have begun talks on peace and security in a bid to repair relations between the neighbours. Senior diplomats from India and Pakistan have agreed to discuss new nuclear confidence building measures, after two days of talks.
The two-day talks in Islamabad between the countries' foreign secretaries come ahead of the Pakistani foreign minister's visit to India in July. The talks in Islamabad between the countries' foreign secretaries are a prelude to the Pakistani foreign minister's visit to India in July.
Relations plummeted after Pakistan-based militants attacked the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) in 2008.Relations plummeted after Pakistan-based militants attacked the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) in 2008.
But earlier this year, leaders vowed to resume their dialogue.But earlier this year, leaders vowed to resume their dialogue.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that Delhi wished to see "a stable and prosperous Pakistan" and that she was approaching the talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir with an "open and constructive mind". India and Pakistan will work to build confidence over their nuclear and conventional weapons capability, a joint statement said.
Gunmen killed 166 people when they attacked India's commercial capital in 2008. After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the attacks had been partially planned on its territory and that the only gunman captured alive was one of its citizens. It also said that a meeting of experts would be held "to consider additional measures... to build trust and confidence and promote peace and security."
Despite charging seven people in connection with the attacks, the Pakistani authorities have yet to convict anyone. Any concrete agreements will be made when the foreign ministers meet in July but it is now clear what is on the agenda for that encounter, the BBC's Mark Dummett in Delhi says.
India and Pakistan have also agreed to look at ways of strengthening cooperation on counter-terrorism and improving ties between the two halves of Kashmir.
Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan in its entirety but has been divided since 1948. It has been the cause of two wars between the countries.
There remains a huge amount of mistrust between the nations, but for now it seems both governments appear committed to improving relations, our correspondent says.
Cricket diplomacyCricket diplomacy
Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals have been slowly improving in recent months, although talks ended in acrimony last July with the two sides indulging in a public spat over Kashmir. Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals have been slowly improving in recent months, although talks ended in acrimony last July, with the two sides indulging in a public spat over Kashmir.
These are the first talks between the two countries since March, when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani for the cricket World Cup semi-final in the Indian city of Mohali.These are the first talks between the two countries since March, when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani for the cricket World Cup semi-final in the Indian city of Mohali.
At the time Mr Singh said cricket had been a "uniting factor" and that the sides should cast aside "ancient animosities".At the time Mr Singh said cricket had been a "uniting factor" and that the sides should cast aside "ancient animosities".
But correspondents say that no major breakthrough is expected during the talks between the foreign secretaries. India put peace talks on hold after the Mumbai attacks of 2008 when gunmen killed 166 people in an attack on India's commercial capital.
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna said all "issues concerning terrorism and various other issues between our two countries" were up for discussion. After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the attacks had been partially planned on its territory and that the only gunman captured alive was one of its citizens.
"Let not expectations be pitched too high because this is one of the relationships we are trying to cultivate in the last few months," he said. Despite charging seven people in connection with the attacks, the Pakistani authorities have yet to convict anyone.
"We are making a determined bid to work out a cordial relationship."
Ms Rao said earlier that India sought a "satisfactory closure" from Pakistan on the Mumbai attacks.
In 2009, Pakistan charged seven people in connection with the attacks, including the suspected mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is alleged to head the outlawed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
"There is an ongoing trial in Pakistan and it has moved rather slowly," Ms Rao said.
"When we talk of closure, what we are implying is that justice should be done in this matter and those responsible for triggering this terror attack and also those who conspired to attack our people should be brought to justice," she said.
Pakistan's foreign ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said the talks would also include the dispute over Kashmir.
Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan in its entirety but has been divided since 1948. It has been the cause of two wars between the countries.