Fifth round of Indo-Pak composite dialogue begins

India and Pakistan on Monday launched their fifth round of composite dialogue with the foreign secretaries of the two countries meeting in New Delhi.

Though the main focus of talks between Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir is on peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and confidence building measures, other issues like release of prisoners, visa relaxation, trade and commerce will also come up for discussions.

With increasing infiltration bids and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past, India is expected to press Pakistan for concrete action.

India is also upset over the suicide attack at its embassy in Kabul earlier this month, which is believed to have been carried out by the Taliban in league with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence.

Bashir, who arrived for talks on Sunday, has said that Pakistan wants "a peaceful atmosphere on both sides."

India is keen to take forward its ties with Islamabad and resolve all issues that divide the two countries but insists on the creation of an atmosphere free of violence, which involves action against Pakistan-based terrorists.