After India and Pakistan agreed to start the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD), Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will meet in January to work out the details of the CBD and the level of interaction in various Working Groups. While the date of the Foreign Secretaries’ meeting is
yet to be announced, the issue of terrorism will also be discussed by the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan as part of this CBD.
On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan’s Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had jointly announced in Islamabad that the two countries will resume the CBD soon.
On Friday, Aziz gave detailed information to the Pakistan National Assembly about the proposed India-Pak talks, its format and the topics to be covered.
“It was decided to continue the constructive engagement between Pakistan and India. As announced in the Joint Statement, the two sides agreed to a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue to discuss peace and security, CBMs, Jammu & Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Economic and Commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism, narcotics control and humanitarian Issues, people to people exchanges and religious tourism. This dialogue includes all the subjects of the Composite Dialogue, with some additions,” Aziz said in his comprehensive statement in the National Assembly.
Aziz also elaborated on the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process hosted by Pakistan on December 9, 2015, the meetings held by Sharif on the sidelines of the conference and the latest developments in relations between Pakistan and India including the Joint Statement issued after bilateral meeting between him and Sushma.
He informed the National Assembly that following the successful meeting of the NSAs, the Indian External Affairs Minister visited Pakistan to attend the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia — Istanbul Process
She called on Sharif and held bilateral talks in the Foreign Office. He added that the two NSAs had a constructive meeting in Bangkok.
“Subsequent to the meeting of the two Prime Ministers in Paris on November 30, the two National Security Advisers, accompanied by the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India had a candid and
constructive meeting in Bangkok on December 6. Both the delegations were guided by the vision of the two leaders for a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia. The meeting discussed peace and security, Jammu & Kashmir, terrorism, tranquility along the loC and Working Boundary,” Aziz said.
“It was also decided that terrorism would be discussed by the two National Security Advisers as part of this Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. We had emphasised that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We have lost tens of thousands of lives in the fight against terrorism. Zarb-e-Azb is the largest counter-terrorism operation of its kind and is being internationally acknowledged and appreciated. It was also decided that the two Foreign Secretaries will meet next month to work out the details of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue and the level of interaction in various Working Groups. The Foreign Secretaries will also decide the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the Dialogue,” Aziz told the Pak National Assembly.