The Hindu : Front Page : Talks on Sir Creek conclude

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 22, 2005

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Talks on Sir Creek conclude

New Delhi : India and Pakistan on Wednesday concluded their two-day technical level talks on demarcation of Sir Creek, a strip of marshland on the western border , here apparently without reaching any agreement on the terms of reference for a joint survey.

A brief joint statement issued after the hectic parleys, which carried on till late in the evening, said "in pursuance of the understanding reached during the Foreign Minister-level meeting in Islamabad on October 3-4, the Indian and Pakistani delegations met in New Delhi on December 20-21 to formulate the terms of reference for carrying out the Joint Survey of the Sir Creek."

"The two sides held constructive and fruitful discussions. They will report to their respective governments on the discussions." The Indian delegation was led by Brig. Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor General, and the Pakistani side by Maj. Gen. Jamil-ur-Rehman Afridi, Surveyor General of Pakistan. However, sources said no agreement was reached at the talks.

The two countries had agreed for a joint survey of the boundary pillars during talks in Rawalpindi on December 14 and 15.

The joint survey will form the basis of negotiations for resolution of the issue.

The report will be presented for discussions at third round of the composite dialogue process beginning in January. Sir Creek, between Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindh province, is one of the eight issues being discussed by the two countries under the composite dialogue process. — UNI

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