This was emphasised by Pakistan's foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan at the meeting on first day of two-day talks with his Indian counterpart Shyam Saran. The foreign secretaries-level parleys, held here at Hyderabad house, mark the beginning of third round of composite dialogue between India and Pakistan.
The foreign secretary further said there was ground for some satisfaction at the progress made in the second round of composite dialogue, stressing it should be utilised to make further progress on issues between the two countries, particularly the vexed issue of Kashmir.
Briefing newsmen later at Pakistan high commission, foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said the two sides along with the delegations discussed agenda item, peace and security, including CBMs. They will take up second item of the agenda, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, she added.
During talks held on Tuesday, foreign secretaries reviewed progress made at the second round of composite dialogue.
A number of proposals made by foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan in the context of peace and security included that pre-notification agreement on flight-testing of missiles should be extended to cruise missiles, she said.
It was also proposed there should be no permanent relocations of strike formation in forward positions between the two countries, the spokesperson added. Another proposal pertained to non-deployment of nuclear weapons to maintain low alert level.
Riaz Khan also proposed to Indian side that both countries should hold discussions on threat perception and evolve measures to address this problem, she said.
The spokesperson further said Islamabad also proposed to New Delhi that South Asian region should be declared anti-ballistic missile (ABM) free zone.
To a question, Tasneem Aslam explained: "We should not introduce anti-ballistic missiles in South Asia to prevent any arms race in the region," adding it would also be good for stability in the South Asian region.
It was also proposed at the meeting to take further measures to enhance conventional stability, she expressed, continuing no new proposal was floated by the Indian side with regard to peace and security.
Tasneem Aslam said the Indian side made some proposals to promote trade and enhance people-to-people contacts. In response, Pakistan's foreign secretary told his counterpart these would be discussed between relevant secretaries at the Indo-Pak meetings.
The spokesperson said the Pakistani side also proposed to have an agreement for the prevention of accidents at sea. The foreign secretary, she said, emphasised during parleys for speedy return of inadvertent border crossers.
He also said India and Pakistan should try to ensure prompt exchange of prisoners as this is a human issue, the spokesperson added.
About six areas covered under the composite dialogue, she said the calendar of meetings on six subjects was likely to be finalised during the talks. Pakistan presented schedule of dates for meetings on six areas, which was more or less acceptable to the Indian side with slight amendments, Tasneem said, adding the third round of composite dialogue was expected to be completed by July this year.
The talks, she said, were held in a cordial atmosphere. Foreign secretary Riaz Khan, she said, called on minister of state for external affairs E. Ahmad after the talks and briefed him about the parleys.
Khan emphasised during the meeting that conducive atmosphere and the progress achieved in the second round of composite dialogue should be utilised to make headway on issues, particularly Kashmir dispute.
The minister said India was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Briefing newsmen after, external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said India on Tuesday proposed at foreign secretaries-level meeting that no defence posts be developed and no defence work take place near the Line of Control (LoC).
He said the Indian side also proposed holding of Brigadier-level flag meetings at the border.
On the draft MoU handed over to Islamabad in October last on measures to reduce risks of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons, the Pakistani side gave its "preliminary observations", Sarna said.
"A detailed response will be given to us before the expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs later this year," the spokesman added. He said developments on the nuclear CBMs were noted as one of the successes of the composite dialogue as was the implementation of the hotline between the foreign secretaries.
The two sides noted as "positive achievements" the decision to launch bus services between Amritsar and Lahore and Amritsar and Nankana Sahib, and successful implementation of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and meeting points on the Line of Control.
India's response in the wake of October 8 earthquake was appreciated by the Pakistan foreign secretary at the start of the talks, Sarna said. In this context, importance of the hotline between foreign secretaries was also underlined.
While reviewing the entire dialogue process, foreign secretaries specifically discussed peace and security, one of the eight issues of the composite dialogue. Jammu and Kashmir issue will be taken up on Wednesday.
Foreign secretaries discussed early opening of consulates in Mumbai and Karachi, Sarna said.
The two sides noted "positive developments" in the overall improvement in relations and reduction of "trust deficit", Sarna said. Foreign secretaries also talked about increased people-to-people contacts as they looked forward to new CBMs in this regard. The two countries reviewed the improvement witnessed with regard to release of prisoners and fishermen whose number has been growing. Saran and Khan exchanged the schedule for expert-level meetings on six other issues of the composite dialogue and will discuss these further on Wednesday.
These are Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar barrage/Tulbul navigation project, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial co-operation and promotion of friendly exchanges. "Positive trend" in trade relations was also noted, Sarna said.
The Indian side conveyed at the meeting that the proposed Khokrapar-Munabao rail link between Sindh and Rajasthan is intended to be extended to Ajmer Sharif to facilitate travel of pilgrims from Pakistan.