Agencies
Islamabad, May 21:
Describing terrorism as a "common menace," Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to fight it jointly with India and gave a commitment for maintaining ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC). After extensive talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the two sides also reported progress on Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek issues and expressed willingness to push forward the confidence building measures, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir.
The two sides signed an agreement for consular access to prisoners with a desire to address this humanitarian issue. "We agreed that terrorism is a common menace and should be fought jointly," Qureshi told a press conference after his talks with Mukherjee to review the fourth round of Composite Dialogue and set the tone for the next round to begin in July. In this direction, he said the Joint Anti Terror Mechanism (JATM) will be activated so that terror incidents "do not affect our ties." He referred to the Jaipur bomb blasts and condemned them "from the heart because Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism" with even former Premier Benazir Bhutto also falling victim to it.
On infiltration and firing at LoC, Qureshi said these would be checked in mutual interest. He said the ceasefire needed to be maintained and the tension kept to the minimal. Mukherjee emphasised that the current dialogue process was based on three pillars which include ensuring an atmosphere free of terror and violence. "I found a strong willingness and desire on Pakistani side to move towards full normalisation of relations," said Mukherjee, who met President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. "Secure, stable and prosperous India and Pakistan are in our mutual interests and good for our relations," Mukherjee said.
Pak committed to peace process
Mush Islamabad: Pakistan is committed to the peace process with India and wants to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries, including Kashmir, through dialogue, President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday.
Affirming Pakistan's seriousness about and commitment to the dialogue process, Musharraf told Pranab Mukherjee that the wishes of the Kashmiri people cannot be ignored while seeking a solution to the Kashmir issue.
Army lodges protest over Pak firing
Jammu, May 21: : Indian Army on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with its Pakistani counterparts over Monday's unprovoked cross-border firing at a forward post in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after Islamabad gave an assurance that it was committed to maintaining the ceasefire.
"A flag meeting was held at Roshni border post along LoC in Mendhar sector of Poonch district, where India lodged a strong protest over ceasefire violation and unprovoked firing on Monday," defence spokesman Lt Col SD Goswami said.
He said a formal protest note was handed over to the Pakistani army officers. India had sought the flag meeting after the incident in which rockets were also fired by the Pakistani side.
The protest comes a day after India and Pakistan resumed their composite dialogue, the first since the new government assumed office in Islamabad last month.
Talks outcome
* Commits to maintain ceasefire
* Progress on J-K, Siachen, Sir Creek
* To address prisoners issue
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