India, Pakistan resolve to building trust, friendship
Date: 05/07/2012      Time: 10:50:00 AM
 
India and Pakistan resolved, on Thursday, to build a relationship of trust and friendship between the two countries through enhancing people-to-people contacts and friendly exchanges. This was decided at the conclusion of a two-day talks between the Foreign Secretaries of the two nations in New Delhi. The talks focused on issues like peace and security, Confidence Building Measures (CBMs),and promotion of friendly exchanges. Ranjan Mathai and Jalil Abbas Jilani, the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, respectively, noted that both countries recognize that terrorism pose a "continuing threat to peace and security." They reaffirmed strong commitment of the two countries to fight and eliminate terrorism in an effective and comprehensive manner so as to eliminate the scourge in all its forms and manifestations, said a joint statement issued at the conclusion of talks. During the talks, the Foreign Secretaries agreed to continue discussions in a purposeful and forward looking manner with a view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences. Furthermore, they recognized the need to strengthen and streamline the existing arrangements to facilitate travel and trade across the international border. They also emphasized the importance of greater parliamentary exchanges, promotion of cooperation in various fields including facilitating visits to religious shrines, and cessation of hostile propaganda against each other. The Foreign Secretaries also emphasized the need to promote media and sports contacts.