India, Pakistan pledge to maintain ceasefire

CNews ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan pledged Thursday to maintain a ceasefire after resuming talks as part of their slow-moving peace process but reported no specific progress on issues under discussion. A joint statement said a meeting between mid-ranking diplomats here was "cordial and constructive," despite fresh accusations from India ahead of the talks of Pakistani support for terror groups. "Consultations continued with the aim of strengthening the ongoing process of confidence building," the statement said. "The two sides reiterated their commitment to uphold the ceasefire." The nuclear-armed neighbours have observed a ceasefire since November 2003 along the Line of Control, the de facto frontier dividing the region of Kashmir, the trigger of two of their three wars since 1947. The Indian foreign ministry said earlier the day-long meeting would focus on reducing tensions along maritime borders and the repatriation of people who inadvertently stray across land frontiers. At present, fishermen, farmers or other people caught by Indian or Pakistani coast guards or border troops are usually suspected of being spies and can languish in prison in legal limbo even after serving sentences. The statement did not say if any progress was made on these or any other issues. The talks will be followed on Friday by discussions on nuclear safeguards, or ways of keeping their respective nuclear arsenals under control. On Monday, Indian and Pakistani officials will revisit efforts to put in place a regular joint anti-terrorism mechanism designed to share intelligence on militant activity. The latest round of talks came in the wake of renewed accusations from New Delhi that Islamabad continues to support terrorist attacks in India. India's national security advisor M.K. Narayanan said Pakistan, already accused of backing Islamic rebels in insurgency-hit Indian Kashmir, was also trying to revive Sikh militancy in the northern state of Punjab. The allegation came after a weekend bomb attack in a Punjab cinema killed six people and injured 32. Although no breakthroughs are expected in the latest round of talks, Indian foreign ministry officials said it was nevertheless "significant" that dialogue was continuing. "The atmosphere between the two sides has improved. There are delegations crossing the borders. More people-to-people contacts are in place with improved bus and train links," a foreign ministry source said. "On October 1, we started a truck service to improve trade. Also significant is that despite all the political issues in Pakistan today no party there has questioned the dialogue process," he added.