ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, April 28 (UPI) -- India and Pakistan have agreed to finalize ground rules for implementation and use along their shared border to avoid conflict.
The decision was taken in Islamabad at the third round of expert-level talks on conventional confidence-building measures between the two countries.
"The two sides also agreed on the modalities for holding quarterly flag meetings on needs basis at sector-level commanders in agreed sectors. The modalities for communication in this context would be further discussed," said a Pakistan foreign office statement published after the meeting.
In addition to the agreed modalities, the statement said, it had been agreed that, in keeping with the pact's intentions, no new posts or defense works were to be built along the Line of Control, nor would existing posts be fortified. An agreement on the timely return of persons found inadvertently crossing the border was also reached.
Both India and Pakistan agreed new ground rules for application along the border were vital, as the existing rules, which date from an agreement signed in 1960, were both outdated and unimplemented.
"As indicated in the joint statement of Jan. 18, 2006, the Pakistan side presented a draft agreement to the Indian side on the prevention of incidents at sea in order to ensure safety of navigation by naval vessels, and aircraft belonging to the two sides," said a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting.
According to the statement, both sides have agreed to periodically discuss further confidence-building measures and to review and monitor the implementation of existing conventional confidence-building measures, as called for in the Lahore agreement of 1999 and as mandated by the foreign secretaries in the composite dialogue process.
