In significant steps taking the dialogue process forward, India and Pakistan on Sunday decided to establish a 'dedicated and secure' hotline between their foreign secretaries to prevent misunderstandings and reduce nuclear risks and pledged themselves to unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests.
A seven-point joint statement issued after two days of expert level talks in Delhi on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures said the existing hotline between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) would be 'upgraded, dedicated and secured'.
"Similarly, a dedicated and secure hotline would be established between the two Foreign Secretaries, through their respective Foreign Offices to prevent misunderstanding and reduce risks relevant to nuclear issues," the two-page statement said.
Both countries decided to work towards concluding an agreement with technical parameters on pre-notification of flight testing of missiles, a draft of which was handed over by the Indian side.
"Each side reaffirmed its unilateral moratorium on conducting further nuclear explosions unless, in exercise of national sovereignty, it decides that extraordinary events have jeopardised its supreme interests," the statement said.
It added that both New Delhi and Islamabad were 'conscious' of the need to promote a stable environment of peace and security between them.
The two sides recognised that nuclear capabilities of each other, which are based on their national security imperatives, constitute a 'factor for stability'.
They also committed themselves to national measures to reduce the risks of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons under their respective controls.
It was decided that they will adopt bilateral notification measures and mechanisms to prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
While Indian delegation to the talks 'held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere' was led by Sheel Kant Sharma, Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, the Pakistani team was headed by Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary in the Pakistan Foreign Office.
The statement said both countries would continue to engage in bilateral discussions and hold further meetings to work towards implementation of the Lahore Memorandum of Understanding of 1999 reached between then Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharief.
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