India, Pakistan talks to resume in May

NEW DELHI, April 10 (UPI) -- India said it will resume talks with Pakistan in May to resolve all outstanding issues including terrorism.

The decision came after Pakistan's new government express its intention to resolve all outstanding disputes with India through negotiations, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

"India has decided to resume the discussions, which were stalled for several months due to political uncertainty," the spokesman said.

He said Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will hold discussions with his counterpart, Riaz Mohammad Khan, in Pakistan on May 20 to wind up the fourth round of composite dialogue.

Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet his counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in Islamabad to formulate the road ahead and review the progress made so far on various bilateral issues including cross-border terrorism, the spokesman said.

The two countries agreed to resume talks stalled following promulgation of emergency in Pakistan. Mukherjee phoned Qureshi to congratulate him on his appointment and both agreed to resume the negotiations at an earlier date under the composite dialogue framework, the spokesman said.

The composite dialogue that began in 2004 covers eight subjects ranging from the territorial and water-related disputes over Siachen, Sir Creek, Kashmir and the Wullar Barrage to checking terrorism and drug trafficking, promoting economic and commercial cooperation and friendly exchanges in several fields, the spokesman said.