Sir Creek talks scheduled next week

The next round of talks on the vexed maritime boundary dispute between India and Pakistan are scheduled to be held in Islamabad, reports Nilova Roy Chaudhury.

Having completed a joint survey of Sir Creek, the next round of talks on the vexed maritime boundary dispute between India and Pakistan are scheduled to be held in Islamabad on May 17 and 18. The joint survey conducted in January 2007 verified the outermost points of the coastline of both countries, based on the equidistance method. Officials then exchanged maps after the joint survey of the marshy strip off the Gujarat coast.

Announcing a schedule for the remaining five subjects under the bilateral composite dialogue process, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said talks would be held between the Water Resources secretaries of both the countries on the Tulbul navigation barrage. Those talks are scheduled on June 26, 27 in New Delhi.

Talks between the Culture secretaries on the Promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields will be held in Islamabad on June 28 and 29.
Home secretaries will meet in New Delhi on July 3 and 4 to discuss ways to curb terrorism and drug trafficking, while the Commerce secretaries will hold talks on improving economic and commercial cooperation, also in New Delhi, on July 31 and August 1.

A meeting of the Joint Study Group on economic cooperation is due on August 2 in New Delhi, the MEA said.

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The Foreign secretaries met in Islamabad in March to launch the ongoing fourth round of the composite dialogue process by discussing Jammu and Kashmir and peace and security including confidence building measures. The Defence secretaries held talks on Siachen in April.

Email author: nchaudhury@hindustantimes.com