News
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Pakistan, India discuss Sir Creek estuaryISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India began talks on Friday to resolve a border dispute over a river estuary, as the nuclear-armed rivals make efforts to revive a peace process derailed by the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The south Asian neighbours conducted a survey of the Sir Creek estuary in 2007 as part of a peace process begun in 2004, before the Mumbai attacks brought the process to a halt.
The two sides agreed to resume the process in February and held trade talks last month on boosting economic ties. They last held talks on Sir Creek in 2007, officials said. “The talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere and there has been progress,” said a Pakistani official familiar with the talks, who declined to be identified. “The two sides are expected to meet again on Saturday and issue a joint statement,” the official said. The dispute over the 100-km estuary has hampered exploration for oil and gas and led to the detention of hundreds of fishermen from the two countries when they stray across the poorly demarcated border. The Sir Creek issue is one of the more easily resolved issues between India and Pakistan, analysts say, and could lead to progress on more contentious disputes. One is the Siachen, where thousands of troops are holed up in freezing temperatures. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk