India, Pakistan set to resolve border dispute

NEW DELHI, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- India and Pakistan agreed Wednesday to undertake a joint survey of the disputed area of Sir Creek along the border near western Gujarat.

Both governments also agreed to consider the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two countries.

A joint statement was issued after the meeting between Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kashuri outlining significant progress made in every sphere of the bilateral peace process including Sir Creek, Jammu, Kashmir and Siachin.

"Many of India's proposed confidence building measures will be carried forward before the third round of the Composite Dialogue progress commences in January next year including a slew of transportation links," the Hindustan Times newspapers said Wednesday.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister Kasuri said experts from both sides will meet later this month to initiate a truck service on the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar route, which will allow trade of permitted goods across the Line of Control.

He said on October 25 and 26 experts will meet in Islamabad to start the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service.

"Pakistan has given go ahead for expert-level meetings by the end of the year to finalize modalities for the meeting points for divided families across the LoC, " said a report.

Last year, India proposed five points near the Indo-Pak border where divided Kashmiri families could reunite. The two estranged South Asian neighbors have been engaged in a peace process to improve relations after the close of the fourth war in 2002.

Indian Foreign Ministry officials said the government handed over a draft of an agreement on consular access even as the issue of alleged Indian spy Sarabjit Singh was also raised during the meeting.

"Pakistan has assured humanitarian treatment of the issue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna.