In a move that may prove crucial for resolution of the lingering Kashmir problem, Pakistan and India are to discuss a proposal that involves removal of heavy weaponry including artillery and mortars out of a 30-km zone from the LoC, Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune has said.
This is one of the several proposals being discussed at the two-day talks in Islamabad between senior officials from the two nuclear-armed neighbours on confidence building measures (CBMs). The talks, part of the peace process that started earlier in the year, opened on Monday.
Apparently this suggestion has come from the Pakistani side, The Express Tribune has reported citing sources in the Pakistani foreign ministry. Also being discussed are an agreement on prevention of incidents at sea and the return of citizens who inadvertently cross the border.
“We (Pakistan) have proposed to redeploy artillery and mortar 30 kilometres away from the LoC,” said the Pakistani official to The Express Tribune. He was also quick to point out that discussion on this proposal was in its initial stages and no major breakthrough was expected during the ongoing round of talks.
The first-day of the talks involved review of existing CBMs including the ceasefire along the LoC.
The officials are also expected to discuss nuclear CBMs on Tuesday such as expanding the existing agreement on advance notification on ballistic missiles to include cruise missile tests.
A cooperative arrangement between the two countries for dealing with a Fukushima-like crisis is also being discussed.
India is expected to urge Pakistan to agree to a 'no first use' nuke policy’ like its own though Islamabad is unlikely to accept it at this stage, given the overwhelming conventional superiority of the Indian Armed Forces.
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