Pakistan on Monday called for an "amicable resolution" of all issues with India as the two countries' defence secretaries began talks to ease the military standoff on Siachen against the backdrop of calls to demilitarise the world's highest battlefield.
During a meeting with an Indian delegation, led by defence secretary Shashikant Sharma, Pakistan defence minister Naveed Qamar said it was in the interest of both countries to "seek an amicable resolution of all the outstanding issues, including Siachen, as it would tremendously contribute towards the peace and prosperity of the South Asian region".
Islamabad has begun calling for demilitarising the Siachen glacier in the wake of an avalanche that killed 139 Pakistani soldiers at an army camp on April 7.
The two-day talks, part of the resumed dialogue process between India and Pakistan, are being held in Rawalpindi.
The Indian delegation is led by Sharma while the Pakistani side is headed by defence secretary Nargis Sethi, a close confidant of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Despite Pakistan army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's call for the resolution of the Siachen issue, analysts believe the two sides are unlikely to make progress in the talks on ending the standoff that began in 1984.
{{/usCountry}}Despite Pakistan army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's call for the resolution of the Siachen issue, analysts believe the two sides are unlikely to make progress in the talks on ending the standoff that began in 1984.
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