India, Pak begin talks on nuclear CBMs

A day after agreeing to continue with the ceasefire, India and Pakistan began talks in New Delhi on Friday on nuclear Confidence Building Measures for reducing the risk of nuclear accidents.

The two countries, which possess nuclear weapons, are likely to discuss measures to boost confidence in each other and prevent any misunderstanding that may spark off a nuclear misadventure between them.

Every year, both countries also exchange lists of nuclear installations in either country.

Officials of the two countries met on Friday and after exchanging pleasantries, began the talks.

The Indian side is being led by K C Singh, joint secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, while the Pakistan delegation is headed by Khalid Aziz Babar, additional secretary (UN & EC)

in the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

The Indian delegation also includes representatives from the Defence Ministry, Department of Atomic Energy, National Security Council Secretariat and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The two sides held the fourth round of the expert-level dialogue on Thursday on conventional CBMs. They reaffirmed commitment to uphold the ceasefire and reviewed the implementation of the existing CBMs.

The two countries will, on October 22, hold the second meeting of the joint anti-terrorism mechanism.