Pakistan, India to take more CBMs

ISLAMABAD - The archrival nuclear neighbours Pakistan and India are likely to allow more travel between
the two countries by easing visa restrictions and mull new Kashmir specific confidence building measures
(CBMs) as the two foreign ministers hold their meeting here later this month.
Indian Minister for External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee will reach here on May 21 to hold talks with his
counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "The ministerial talks are being held to review the progress made by
the two sides in the forth round of parleys held in 2007," said a senior government official here on Friday.
Requesting anonymity, he said it was expected that the two sides would start considering some new
CBMs such as increasing the frequency of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot bus services,
truck services across the Line of Control and launching the Kargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot bus services.
The official said that Islamabad and New Delhi would also discuss some more CBMs but he decline to
divulge the details in this regard. Another official when contacted said that one important development
likely to take place during the ministerial meeting was relaxation in the issuance of visas by the two sides
for people traveling from one country to another.
He said, "Easing of visa restrictions and allowing more travel between Pakistan and India will be on the
agenda of talks and both the sides will strive to reach an agreement in this regard."
Giving more details, the official said that both the sides would review the progress made by them during
the fourth of round of Composite Dialogue on eight major subjects on talks' agenda including, Kashmir,
Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, trade and economic relations and security related issues. He said that
the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India would also hold their meeting on May 20 before the
ministerial meeting and they would come up with their recommendations on more CBMs and easing of
visa restrictions.
Moreover, he said the two sides would formally announce the commencement of fifth round of "Composite
Dialogue" at the end of talks between the two foreign ministers.