Indo-Pakistan conventional, nuclear confidence building talks on Dec 26,27

Islamabad : India and Pakistan will discuss conventional and nuclear confidence building measures during their bilateral talks on December 26 and 27 in Islamabad.

Pakistans Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said the fifth round of expert level talks on conventional confidence building measures (CBM) will be held on December 26 and the sixth round of talks are scheduled on December 27.

He said the meetings mark a step further of the Foreign Secretary- level meeting of both sides held in Islamabad last year, where agreed to re-convene expert groups, The Daily Times reports.

Disarmament and International Security Affairs Director General D Bala Verma would lead the Nuclear CBM Group, while Joint Secretary, Yashwant K Sinha would head the Conventional CBM Group, while representing India.

The Pakistan delegation for both export groups would be represented by United Nations and European Union Additional Secretary Munawar Saeed Bhatti.

Basit said the national security committee of the Pakistan parliament has summoned the record of agreements signed with the US and NATO for reviewing Pakistan- US ties.

He clarified that the ongoing review aimed at streamlining our relations with the US and dealing with the sensitive and complex issue therein.

He pointed out that the Pakistans decision to seal NATO supply route did not aim at ruining relations but to streamline the countrys cooperation on such issues.

Basit said Pakistan wants relations with rest of the world based on mutual respect and interest, including the US.