Trans-Kashmir trade from Oct 21

NEW YORK - Leaders of India and Pakistan have agreed that terrorism has no place in their bilateral relationship as they decided on a series of confidence-building measures, including commencing of cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade in Kashmir from October 21.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, meeting for the first time on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, decided that a special meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism will be held next month to address mutual concerns, including the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

A joint statement issued after over an hour-long meeting at the Millennium Hotel, across the UN, said severe action would be taken against any elements directing or involved in terrorist acts.

Zardari described Manmohan Singh as the architect of modern India, and assured him that Pakistan stood by its commitments of January 6, 2004 when it pledged not to allow cross-border terrorism.

“Both leaders acknowledged that the peace process has been under strain in recent months. They agreed that violence, hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share of the bilateral relationship and must be visibly and verifiably prevented,” the joint statement said.

Two trade routes across the Line of Control in Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between the two rivals, will open from Oct 21 to help improve ties, it said.

Agencies add: Zardari and Manmohan agreed to kickstart an embattled peace dialogue between the two nuclear-armed rivals, with a new round of talks to be scheduled by year’s end.

The two sides decided to launch trans-border trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads connecting the divided parts of Jammu and Kashmir across the Line of Control from Oct 21, the joint statement said.

It further said a third route between Kargil and Skardu will also be discussed.

This is the first major confidence-building measure since a civilian dispensation took charge in Islamabad nearly six months ago.