India, Pak. to go into free trade zone

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 23. India and Pakistan are expected to meet in Islamabad in the first week of January to discuss a proposal for creation of a free trade zone and easing of transport links.

The English daily The News has reported that India has agreed to send a delegation of experts to take part in a transport committee meeting scheduled for January 6 and 7 under the auspices of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

It would be the first official delegation to visit Pakistan after the Kargil conflict in May/June last year and the military takeover in October 1999. It is to be followed by the SAARC Standing Committee meeting in the first quarter of 2001.

The last meeting of the standing committee was held in Sri Lanka in March 1999. A meeting of SAARC Foreign Ministers followed it.

The paper has said the meeting between officials of India and Pakistan is considered a major diplomatic breakthrough after Kargil. Quoting diplomatic circles the paper has said the meeting is a breakthrough as the SAARC summits had been frozen in view of India's reluctance to sit across the table with Pakistan.

The daily said given the present nature of relations between India and Pakistan, a summit-level meeting of SAARC was not possible. It said having taken a stand against participating in a political-level SAARC Summit, the Indian Government has now given a commitment to Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshan Kadirgmar, during his recent visit to New Delhi that it would not block the day-to-day functioning SAARC.

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Section  : International
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