Indo-Pak talks may not start next month

Indian government sources have reportedly told the Daily Times here that a structured dialogue would only start after the Lok Sabha elections, and that officials from both countries would meet in March to decide on the agenda for the talks.

The sources further went on to say that the Indian Government is quite serious about dissolving the Lok Sabha to hold early elections.

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They said the joint statement issued in Islamabad last Tuesday only spoke of starting the process of the composite dialogue in February and not the composite dialogue itself.

"The two countries will now move step by step and the political-level dialogue will only start after the two countries had drawn a blueprint for talks," they added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has agreed to India 's proposal to ease restrictions on the travel of diplomats from both sides. According to the Daily Times, a formal consent will be conveyed to the Indian government soon.

The restrictions were imposed by India in January 2002 following the terrorist attack on Parliament.

"The Indian government forwarded four confidence-building measures shortly before the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit which have been examined by the government of Pakistan," sources were quoted as saying.

Sources said Pakistan might give its consent to another Indian proposal to increase the number of staff at their respective diplomatic missions to 75 from the existing 55.

The strength at the high commissions of India and Pakistan was 110 in December 2001, but New Delhi 's decision to reduce Pakistan 's personnel and a reciprocal response by Pakistan left the strength at 47.

On November 13, 2003 , the two countries simultaneously issued visas to eight additional officials for each other's high commissions, increasing the strength to 55 at their high commissions in Islamabad and New Delhi .

Sources said it was Pakistan that proposed to increase the strength of the diplomatic staff to 110 on May 6, October 29 and November 23, 2003 respectively.

"Restoration of the full staff strength at the high commissions will facilitate speedy processing and grant of visas to the Pakistanis and Indians who intend to travel by air, road and train," the sources said.