Talks on the Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in Various Fields were held today as part of the composite dialogue process that has begun between India and Pakistan. With the discussions today, the two countries concluded, discussions on the eight identified subjects in less than a month. This process has contributed to building trust and confidence, seeking mutually beneficial co-operation, and addressing outstanding issues. The subject we discussed today, is the very essence of the overall objective of the dialogue process.

Normalisation of relations through promotion of interaction between the peoples of the two countries is one of the basic objectives of the Simla Agreement. People of both the countries have demonstrated a desire for greater bilateral contacts. There have been visits to India by eminent Pakistan singers, artists, theatre personalities and school children. It was our approach to build on them and explore further avenues in which the two countries could have meaningful exchanges.

During our meeting today, we proposed detailed and practical suggestions in the field of Art and Culture, Youth Affairs, Sports, Information and Media. The Pakistan side informed that they would examine our proposals in the light of the India-Pakistan Cultural Agreement of 1988. We look forward to positive and constructive response from them.

Of special significance were the discussions regarding the bus service that is to begin between Delhi and Lahore. This service, connecting two great and historical cities of the sub-continent, has a more than a symbolic value as this was a decision taken by our Prime Minister during their meeting in New York on 23rd September 1988. We had forwarded on 30th October, 1998 to the Government of Pakistan a draft Agreement on the Regulation of Motor Vehicle Passenger Traffic. Pakistan today conveyed its response to our draft Agreement. It was agreed that the official delegations of the two countries would meet by 20th November to finalise an agreement on Vehicular Passenger Traffic and also the operational and the commecial aspects fo the bus service. The disirability of an early beginning of the Delhi-Lahore bus was emphasised by us and agreed to by Pakistan.

During 1997, India had made unilateral relaxations in its visa regime in respect of Pakistan nationals. These relations include, inter-alia multi-entry business visas for Pakistan businessmen recommended by SAARC Chambers of Commerce of Pakistan, visitor visas with specific endorsement permitting commercial performances for reputed Pakistan artists, enabling them to perform in India; increase in maximum number of places that a Pakistan national can visit from 8 to 12; extension of EPR visa facility to children below 12, elderly of 20 years and above, well-known journalists, media personalities, women, artistes and writers, and bona fide Pakistan businessmen recommended by SAARC Chambers of
Commerce; designation of Chennai as an additional entry/exit point for Pakistan nationals, and permission to Pakistan nationals, entering India by air through Delhi or Mumbai, to go to a third country by air from an exit point different from the point of entry. It was conveyed to Pakistan that we are also introducing tourist visas for Pakistan nationals for groups of not less than 10 persons and not more than 50 persons for a period of 14 days, through approved tour operators/travel agents. It was proposed that Pakistan may consider extending similar relaxations to Indian nationals with a view to reinforcing an atmosphere in which greater contact can take place Pakistan informed that they too had liberalised their visa regime for Indian nationals and would convey to us the details of the relaxations made in this regard.

Both sides also agreed that the visas of the Railways and Airlines personnel would be granted in a specified time frame not more than 30 days.

We proposed enhanced interaction in the fields of media including flow of newspapers and periodicals between the two countries. We also proposed thatboth countries facilitate visits of journalists and agree to the posting of more newspapers and news agency correspondents on a reciprocal basis.

We dwelt on the bilateral protocol on the Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974 and conveyed the demand of many that the number of shrines located in Pakistan to which visits are permitted be increased and the number of pilgrims that are allowed on every visit also be increased. We urged Pakistan to consider these proposals. It is most important that during such visits, the sanctity of shrines is maintained so that the religious sentiments of the pilgrims are not hurt. It is unfortunate that during the course of the visits of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan they have been subjected to hostile anti-India propaganda which takes place within the premises of the Gurudwaras. We asked Pakistan to take all necessary steps to ensure that these activities are not permitted to take place under any circumstances.

We welcomed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to release Indian fishermen in Pakistan custody. 151 Indian fishermen/25 fishing vessels have been returned to us on 11th November, 1998. In this context, we emphasised that necessary steps should be taken to avoid delays and to work out mechanisms which ensure expeditious release and repatriation of innocent fishermen who trespass innocently into each other's territory are not guilty of a serious crime, should be offered immmediately for repatriation after the investigations are over. We have already moved ahead in this direction, 40 Pakistani Fishermen were apprehended by our authorities on 24.10.98 and on 2nd November 1998, ie. within a fortnight we had approached Pakistan for making arrangements for their return and repatriation to Pakistan. Earlier (on 31.10.98) we had conveyed to Pakistan our decision to repatriate 109 Pakistani fishermen in our custody. As Government of Pakistan had till date not conveyed any information regarding the modalities and time-frame for the repatriation of their fishermen to Pakistan, we asked Pakistan during this meeting to urgently convey to us their decision in this respect. We have also asked that the return and repatriation of all fishermen in each others custody shoud be completed by 30th November, 1998. Pakistan side was also requested to release the 40 fishermen arrested by their authorities on 30th October, 1998.

With respect to civilian prisoners both sides noted that since 1991 there had been no exchange between the two countries. We informed Pakistan that our judicial systems require that any person who has completed his jail sentence should be released and if he is a foreigner he should be repatriated to his country. We have since early this year conveyed to Pakistan on a case-by-case basis, through diplomatic channels details of 6% Pakistan civilian prisoners ready for repatriation. 21 of them have already returned home and repatriation of the remaining Pakistani civilian prisoners is at various stages and once formalities including issue of travel documents are completed they would be repatriated to Pakistan. We proposed that civilian prisoners be repatriated immediately on completion of sentence once travel documents are made available. Both sides agreed that there could be a meeting of concerned officials to ensure that this is done.

It was agreed that discussions on Promotion of Friendly exchanges would continue during the next round of the bilateral dialogue process.