Indo-Pak talks on cross-LoC CBMs on July 18

India and Pakistan are expected to give a push to the cross-LoC confidence building measures (CBMs), including the launch of a truck service, when senior officials of the two countries meet in Islamabad on July 18.

India and Pakistan are expected to give a push to the cross-LoC confidence building measures (CBMs), including the launch of a truck service, when senior officials of the two countries meet in Islamabad on July 18.

At the Joint Secretary-level talks, the two sides will discuss various ideas and proposals to enhance people-to-people contacts and trade across LoC.

Among the proposals to be considered is the launch of a truck service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), sources said.

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The proposed CBM is crucial for cross-LoC trade which both the countries are keen on.

The two sides will also consider opening of more routes for cross-LoC bus service. These include Kargil-Skardu and Jammu-Sialkot bus services.

India has been pressing for the launch of these services but there has been no success so far.

Liberalisation of the permit system used for travel across the LoC will also be on the agenda, the sources said.

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The two sides could also be discussing issues related to the border contact points to enable people from two sides of Jammu and Kashmir to meet.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place on July 10 but had to be postponed as Joint Secretary in the MEA T C A Raghavan had to rush to Kabul in the wake of the suicide attack at the Indian Embassy there, Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Afrasiab said.