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India-Pakistan
Joint Statement
Date: April 18, 2005
Place: New Delhi, India
Text of the joint
statement signed between the Prime Minister of India and the President
of Pakistan in Delhi:
1. The President of Pakistan, His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf
and Begum Sehba Musharraf visited New Delhi as guests of the Prime
Minister of India and Shrimati Gursharan Kaur on 16 to 18 April 2005.
2. While in New Delhi, the President of Pakistan called on the President
of India. He also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of India, who
hosted a dinner in his honour. The President also watched the last
one-day international cricket match between India and Pakistan.
3. The President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India used the
opportunity provided by the visit to review progress in Pakistan-India
relations. They assessed positively the progress that had been made so
far through confidence building, people-to-people contacts and enhancing
areas of interactions and determined to build on the momentum already
achieved.
4. They reaffirmed the commitments made in the Joint Press Statement of
January 6, 2004 and the Joint Statement issued after their meeting in
New York on September 24, 2004 and expressed satisfaction on the
progress in the peace process and the improvement of relations between
the two countries that has since been realised.
5. Conscious of the historic opportunity created by the improved
environment in relations and the overwhelming desire of the peoples of
the two countries for durable peace and recognising their responsibility
to continue to move forward towards that objective, the two leaders had
substantive talks on all issues. They determined that the peace process
was now irreversible.
6. In this spirit the two leaders addressed the issue of Jammu and
Kashmir and agreed to continue these discussions in a sincere and
purposeful and forward looking manner for a final settlement. They were
satisfied with the discussions and expressed their determination to work
together to carry forward the process and to bring the benefit of peace
to their people.
7. They also agreed to pursue further measures to enhance interaction
and cooperation across the LoC including agreed meeting points for
divided families, trade, pilgrimages and cultural interaction.
8. They condemned attempts to disrupt the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus
service and welcomed its successful operationalisation. The two leaders
pledged that they would not allow terrorism to impede the peace process.
9. They decided to increase the frequency of the bus service and also
decided that trucks would be allowed to use this route to promote trade.
They also agreed to operationalise additional routes including that
between Poonch and Rawalakot. They also look forward to early start of
the bus service between Amritsar and Lahore and to religious places such
as Nankana Sahib.
10. They agreed to re-establish the Khokhrapar-Munnabao route by 1st
January 2006.
11. They agreed that the Consulates General of the two countries in
Mumbai and Karachi respectively would be opened before the end of the
current year.
12. They endorsed the decisions taken in the meeting of Foreign
Secretaries of the two countries on 27-28 December 2004, and the Foreign
Minister on 15-17 February 2005, on the schedule of meetings later in
the year, the agreements to be worked upon through these meetings and
the measures to be taken to alleviate the situation of prisoners.
13. On the issues of Sir Creek and Siachen, they instructed that the
existing institutional mechanisms should convene discussions immediately
with a view to finding mutually acceptable solutions to both issues
expeditiously.
14. It was agreed that the Ministers of Petroleum and Natural Gas would
meet in May to explore cooperation in the sector including on the issue
of pipelines.
15. Both leaders agreed that enhanced economic and commercial
cooperation would contribute to the well-being of the peoples of the two
countries and bring a higher level of prosperity for the region. The two
leading economies of South Asia should work together for the greater
prosperity of the region.
16. The leaders decided to reactivate the Joint Economic Commission as
early as possible. They also agreed that the Joint Business Council
should meet soon.
17. The President of Pakistan conveyed his gratitude for the hospitality
provided during the visit and invited the Prime Minister to visit
Pakistan. The invitation was accepted in principle. Mutually agreed
dates would be worked out through diplomatic channels.
New Delhi April 18, 2005
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