The talks were held in a positive and friendly atmosphere with frank and candid discussions on Siachen, which is one of the eight points at the composite dialogue process between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Pakistan delegation was led by Defence Secretary Lieutenant General Hamid Nawaz Khan (Retd), while Indian side was headed by his counterpart A. Vikram Singh.
The delegation-level talks were preceded by one-on-one meeting between the defence secretaries of both the countries.
Reiterating its earlier position towards Siachen, Pakistan is understood to have emphasised on implementation of an understanding, reached in June 1989 between the two countries, for the redeployment of forces in Siachen prior to Simla position, adding it should form basis of the talks.It was emphasised during the talks that the disengagement should take place and areas should be demilitarised. Indian side is believed to have stressed during the talks that the existing position in Siachen should be authenticated, which is, however, not acceptable to Pakistan.
Military experts of the two sides met separately to discuss modalities for disengagement and redeployment of forces in pursuance of understanding of 1989 between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Meanwhile, diplomatic circles here are of the view that Siachen is a very important issue, adding that it would also be test case for the two sides to resolve their issues bilaterally in a peaceful manner.
Lieutenant General Hamid Nawaz (Retd) on his arrival here on Wednesday said that Islamabad had a "positive and open" mind on the Siachen issue.
While Vikram Singh had told the newsmen that the exercise was a part of the composite dialogue process between the two sides and efforts would be made to resolve all defence-related issues.
The Pakistani delegation included Aziz Ahmad Khan, Pakistan High Commissioner, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Director General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Major General Raza Muhammad Khan, Director General Operations and Planning GHQ, Major General Muhammad Yousuf, DG Military Operations, Major General Jamil-ur-Rehman Afridi and Deputy High Commissioner Munawar Saeed.
Indian team includes Arun Singh, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Prthipish Nag, Surveyor General, Shiv Shankar Menon, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Lieutenant General A.S. Bhaiya, Director General, Military Operations, Bimal Julka and Gautam Mukhopadhyaya, Joint Secretaries in the Defence Ministry and Major General J.S. Lidder, Additional DGMO.
According to the Defence Ministry officials here, a joint statement is expected to be issued at the conclusion of the discussions. The talks on the Siachen would be followed by talks on the issue of Sir Creek on Friday and Rear Admiral Ahsanul Haq Chaudhry, Additional Secretary, Defence Division, will lead the Pakistani side in the talks.