New train to Pakistan in December
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [ Images ] and Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf [ Images ] held a two-hour meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi [ Images ] on Sunday, taking the composite dialogue process between the two countries a few steps forward.
Dr Singh and General Musharraf first discussed all issues between the two countries during a delegation-level talks that lasted for over an hour, which were followed by a restricted-level meeting, in which the two leaders were joined by their foreign ministers, K Natwar Singh and Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri.
After the 45-minute restricted-level talks, General Musharraf and Dr Singh held a one-on-one meeting.
The two countries decided to implement another confidence-building measure -- opening the rail link between Munnabao in Rajasthan [ Images ] and Khokhrapar in Sind near Karachi in December.
The rail link will benefit thousands of families, known as Mohajirs, living near Karachi, who had migrated from India [ Images ], mainly from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh [ Images ], Bihar, Gujarat and Delhi during Partition. The general is a Mohajir from Delhi.
Currently, Mohajirs face many logistical problems to visit India. They have to obtain a visa from Islamabad [ Images ] and then travel to Lahore [ Images ] to make a trip to India.
Experts believe this will be a significant diplomatic shift in the India-Pakistan peace process.
There is also a proposal to extend the Munnabao-Khokhrapur train service up to Karachi.
The two sides also decided to increase the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, official sources said.
The talks were wide-ranging and held in a 'very warm atmosphere', Dr Sanjaya Baru, the prime minister's media adviser, said.
A ministry of external affairs official told rediff.com that the two countries also agreed to permit the plying of trucks across the Line of Control [ Images ] in Kashmir [ Images ]. This will help Kashmiri apple growers in finding new markets in areas around Rawalpindi, thus boosting Kashmir's economy.
It will also help Indian consumer products find markets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India and Pakistan also decided to set up a joint committee to resolve the dispute over the Siachin glacier and a Joint Business Council.
Before the talks, Dr Singh and General Musharraf watched the final one-day game between India and Pakistan at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium for over an hour.
Additional reportage: PTI
Musharraf visit: Complete coverage
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