Joint Press Conference by External Affairs Minister Of India, K. Natwar Singh, and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri in Hyderabad House, New Delhi
Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this Joint Press Interaction with the Excellencies, Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan. May I first request the External Affairs Minister of India, Shri Natwar Singh, to kindly make his opening remarks.
Natwar Singh: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan and I met yesterday and this morning to review the overall progress in bilateral relations and the status of the Composite Dialogue. Our meeting was preceded by a meeting between the two Foreign Secretaries on September 4, 2004. While we both are sincerely committed to carry forward the Composite Dialogue, we should not lose sight of the wise dictum ‘diplomacy provides hope, not salvation’. Even modest progress is worthy of respect. We have made progress in the past two days. My friend, Foreign Minister Kasuri, and I have established rapport and mutual trust.
India is committed to deepen and widen its engagement with Pakistan in order to resolve all issues and to build a durable structure of peace and stability in South Asia free from an atmosphere of terrorism and violence. In his press conference the other day the Prime Minister referred to this matter and I shall do so here too. I would like to recall the Joint Press Statement on January 6 this year, and the reassurance by President Musharraf that he would not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner. Cross-border infiltration remains a serious concern and I have reiterated our concerns to Mr. Kasuri.
Significantly, the ceasefire has held since November 25, 2003, and both sides are committed to continuing it. The first round of the Composite Dialogue has been concluded successfully. The schedule of meetings agreed to in February 2004 was maintained and the outcome of the dialogue process is positive. We have arrived at several agreements that would take the process forward. For example, technical-level meeting would be held in October-November on the Munabao-Khokhrapar railway link. The Indian Coast Guards and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency will hold talks to discuss a memorandum of understanding for establishing communication links between them. A biannual meeting between the Indian Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers is also scheduled in October. There would be meetings to discuss conventional and nuclear CBMs. Joint Survey of the boundary pillars in the horizontal segment of the International Boundary in the Sir Creek area. A special day-bus service on special occasions between Amritsar and religious places in Lahore such as Nankana Saheb. Enhanced interaction and exchanges between the two foreign offices including study groups of young diplomats to each other’s country.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan has invited me to visit Pakistan and I have accepted his invitation to visit Pakistan.
Thank you.
Official Spokesperson: May I now request His Excellency, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to kindly make his opening statement.