Second Day of Talks Between Indian and Pakistani Officials - 2004-02-17

On Tuesday, Indian and Pakistani officials engaged in discussions for the second day regarding the agenda for the meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries scheduled for Wednesday. India and Pakistan have reached a broad agreement on the framework for peace negotiations, which will include Kashmir and other contentious issues. This understanding was achieved on Tuesday in Islamabad between senior officials of both countries who were in talks to determine the agenda for the foreign ministers' meeting. Neither side has disclosed the specifics of the framework, but news reports from Islamabad indicate that eight groups are expected to be formed to address long-standing issues. These include Kashmir, building mutual trust, and matters such as restraint in the use of nuclear power, terrorism, drugs, and trade. On the first day of negotiations on Monday, Indian and Pakistani officials exchanged views on the nature of the talks and a timeline for their conduct. A spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that ways to reduce the risk of an accidental nuclear conflict between the two countries would also be discussed. He noted that both sides have recognized that all disputes must be resolved peacefully and that war is not a solution.