Apart from this, there were many concrete deliverables that would be enough to characterize as successful Khar’s maiden trip abroad as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister. The atmospherics were cool and a rare cordiality pervaded the conference hall as the two delegations talked for about three hours, reviewed the status of bilateral relations on such diverse issues as Counter-Terrorism (including progress on Mumbai trial) and Narcotics Control; Humanitarian issues; Commercial & Economic cooperation; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; Sir Creek; Siachen; Peace & Security including CBMs; Jammu & Kashmir; and promotion of friendly exchanges. Instead of throwing barbs at each other on the issue of terrorism, the two foreign ministers agreed to the need for continued discussions, in a purposeful and forward looking manner, with a view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences. At the end of the talks the two sides announced a total of 14 Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) – seven for cross-LoC trade and seven for cross-LoC travel. This is indeed a far cry from the hitherto well known stand of Pakistan – Kashmir first, trade later. To demonstrate that this talk about boosting travel and trade across the Line of Control was no flash in the pan, Krishna and Khar laid down a mechanism and agreed that a Joint Working
Group will henceforth meet on a bi-annual basis to review existing arrangements and suggest additional measures for Cross-LoC travel and trade. It is a welcome sign and vindication of the long-practised Indian diplomacy that the majority of the Indo-Pak Joint Statement is devoted to strengthening trade, travel and people-to-people contacts. They said the two sides will continue to discuss weightier issues like Siachen, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project and Sir Creek and reiterated their commitment to seeking early and amicable solutions to all these issues. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Indus Waters Treaty, the only bilateral treaty that has not been violated even during wars.
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