India and Pakistan have agreed to launch the next round of the Composite Dialogue when the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries meet in January 2006.
This was informed in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed in a written reply during question hour.
He said India and Pakistan have successfully completed two rounds of the Composite Dialogue.
In reply to another question, the
minister said India had presented a draft proposal on increasing the number of pilgrims and pilgrimage centres in both the countries. The visit of pilgrims between India and Pakistan is covered under the bilateral ''Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines-1974."
During the Secretary level talks held in Islamabad on July 26-27, 2005, it was agreed to expand the 1974 bilateral Protocol to increase the number of shrines.