The Asian Age http://www.asianage.com/
25 April 2006 International South Asia Focus of Indo-Pak talks is nuclear risk - By K.J.M Varma Islamabad, April 24: India and Pakistan are expected to finalise a new agreement on reducing risk of nuclear accidents during the fourth round of experts-level talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures (CBMs) to be held here from on Tuesday. During the three-day talks, the two sides will exchange proposals to initiate more CBMs in the nuclear and conventional fields and finalise a new agreement on "Reducing Risk of Nuclear Accidents." The talks will be held between additional secretary of external affairs ministry K.C. Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Mr Tariq Usman Haider. The two countries have already reached an agreement of pre-notification of ballistic missiles and establishment of hotline phone contacts between foreign secretaries to deal with situations arising of accidental firing of nuclear weapons Pakistan foreign office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam told reporters here ahead of the talks. She said discussions have been held on Indian draft on Reducing Risk of Nuclear Accidents. "It has been discussed and we feel that it is in the interest of both the countries that we do not have a situation where there is any possibility of an accident," she said. During the talks the two sides would discuss Pakistan's proposal of an agreement on prevention of incidents at sea in order to ensure safety of navigation by Naval vessels and aircraft belonging to the two sides, she said. Discussions would be focused on nuclear CBMs on the first two days. The last day of the talks would stress on conventional CBMs. Pakistan looks forward to some purposeful discussions in the expert-level talks, she said. The talks are being held in the backdrop of the Indo-US agreement on civilian nuclear energy, which Pakistan has claimed would lead to nuclear arms race. Islamabad has also asked Washington to extend the deal to it, which the Bush administration has refused. In Tuesday's talks various proposals to enhance contacts between military units may be discussed. (PTI)
