Pakistan and India agree to more talks

Pakistan’s president announced the next round of peace talks with rival India will take place later this year, just after the Indian elections, and that foreign ministers from the two sides will soon get involved in the negotiations.

President General Pervez Musharraf made the announcement in a speech at a conference of Islamic clerics on the sidelines of the historic first round of peace talks between the two nations in Islamabad.

The talks are being held between the two countries' foreign secretaries, and a move to include foreign ministers would mean a significant boost in the level of the negotiations.

A delay until after India’s April vote had long been expected.

“The talks have been held now. I want to tell you that in July or August, or God willing, in May or June, the next secretary-level talks will be held, immediately after the elections in India,” Musharraf said.

“The Kashmir issue will be included and in July or August, a foreign minister-level composite dialogue will be held.”

The latest peace talks have raised hopes that the South Asian rivals can put their half-century of enmity over Kashmir and other issues behind them.