US embassy cable - 04NEWDELHI7425

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 007425 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, IN, PK, INDO-PAK, GOI 
SUBJECT: GOI DOCUMENT: RECENT INITIATIVES IN INDO-PAK 
RELATIONS 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 7395 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt, Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) During a November 19 meeting reviewing the agenda for 
the upcoming Indo-Pak composite dialogue (reftel), MEA Joint 
Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Arun K. Singh shared 
 
SIPDIS 
with us four papers outlining progress in the Indo-Pak 
relationship since 2003, pending bilateral proposals, 
unilateral Indian actions, and areas where India perceives 
Pakistan to be dragging its feet.  Following is the Indian 
paper on "Matters taken up with Pakistan after bilateral 
talks on September 4-6, 2004," which Singh offered as a 
summary of GOI-initiated progress over recent weeks.  These 
steps, many of which have received little publicity, are 
reflective of the broad expansion of Indo-Pak interaction 
that has occured in recent months. 
 
2.  (SBU) Begin Text GOI paper: "Matters taken up with 
Pakistan after bilateral talks on September 4-6, 2004" 
 
September 18, 2004 
 
Unilateral visa relaxation measures announced by India. 
These included: 
 
i. Accredited journalists with minimum 3 years accreditation 
with national or international media of repute could be 
issued Multiple Entry Visas, without prior reference to 
headquarters, and with exemption from reporting to the police. 
 
ii. Academicians and professors, Vice Chancellors and those 
coming on the invitation of reputed/eminent universities and 
institutions could be issued Multiple Entry Visas, without 
prior reference to headquarters, and with exemption from 
reporting to the police. 
 
iii. Medical doctors, if accompanying patients for treatment 
at leading/reputed hospitals in India, could be issued visas 
without prior reference to headquarters and with exemption 
from reporting to the police. 
 
iv. All Pakistan nationals above 65 could be granted visas 
with exemption from reporting to the police. 
 
v. Pakistani nationals could be permitted to visit up to 
twelve places during each visit (as against the present 3) 
 
vi. There will also be liberalization in issuing visas for 
participation in conferences. 
 
September 21, 2004 
 
A formal invitation from the Speaker, Lok Sabha, to the 
Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly to visit India 
extended by High Commissioner of India to Islamabad. 
 
September 22, 2004 
 
Following proposal reiterated through notes verbale and 
response sought.  It was communicated that a confirmation 
through a note verbale would constitute an agreement. 
 
i. The existing Protocol of 1974 be amended to include more 
shrines in both countries; 
 
ii. The size of the Pilgrim Group could be increased (from 
3000 to 5000 on the occasions on Baisakhi and Birth 
Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev; 1000 to 2000 on the occasion 
of Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev; 500 to 1000 on the occasion 
of Barsi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.); 
 
iii. Facilitating a visit of SGPC team to study religious 
literature lying in National libraries and Universities in 
Lahore and Islamabad; 
 
iv. Grant of Transit Facilities to each other's goods on 
reciprocal basis; 
 
v. Two sides could consider opening of Attari-Wagah land 
route for trade; 
 
vi. Allow multiple airlines for operations of the scheduled 
services on a reciprocal basis; 
 
vii. Allowing the designated carriers of Pakistan seeking to 
have air connectivity with India 7 flights a week to one 
international airport and then 7 more flights to a second 
international airport, on a reciprocal basis. 
 
viii. Amendment to the 1975 Protocol on Resumption of 
Shipping Services between India and Pakistan: Deleting 
article 3 thereby allowing third country flag ships/vessels 
to lift India/Pakistan bound cargo; Deleting article 5 
thereby allowing flag carriers of both countries to lift 
cargo for a third country from each other's port; 
 
September 23, 2004 
 
Pakistan side informed of Archeological Survey of India's 
willingness to extend assistance for repair & maintenance of 
Jehangir's tomb in Lahore, and requested for a sample of the 
stone used in the Tomb. 
 
September 28, 2004 
 
Response sought on India's proposal for starting group tours 
by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Pakistan Tourism 
Development Corporation (PTDC).  (DTC has written to PTDC on 
three occasions.  It was also agreed in the Joint Statement 
on September 8, 2004 that efforts would be made to promote 
group tourism.) 
 
October 7, 2004 
 
i. As follow up for participation in trade fairs and 
exhibitions in each other's country, a list of Trade Fairs 
and related events being organized by ITPO between October 
2004 - June 2005 handed over to Pakistan side. 
 
ii. Proposal for a meeting between CBI and FIA to discuss 
issues related to trans-border crimes, such as financial 
flows, cyber crime, etc.  reiterated to Pakistan and 
confirmation sought so as to finalise the dates through 
diplomatic channels. 
 
October 8, 2004 
 
Proposal to hold technical level talks with Pakistan on 
starting a bus service on specific occasions between Amritsar 
and religious places in and around Lahore, such as Nankana 
Sahib, made to Pakistan. 
 
October 11, 2004 
 
i. Formal invitation extended to Pakistan artistes for 
participation in 11th Triennale-India exhibition (an 
exhibition of contemporary world art) being organized by 
Lalit Kala Akademi from January 15-February 10, 2005 in New 
Delhi. 
 
ii. Formal invitation extended for participation of two to 
three theatre groups from Pakistan in the 7th Rang Mahotsav 
(National Theatre Festival) being organized by National 
School of Drama from January 5 to 20, 2005 at New Delhi. 
 
iii. Formal invitation extended to two painters of eminence 
to participate in International Painters Camp being organized 
by Lalit Kala Akademi at Hyderabad from February 20 to March 
10, 2005 to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. 
 
October 12, 2004 
 
Formal invitation extended to a 8-member youth delegation 
from Pakistan to participate in the National Youth festival 
being organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports 
of India from January 12 to 16, 2004. 
 
October 27, 2004 
 
In continuation of the suggestions made by the Indian side 
during the meeting between the Secretaries (Culture) of the 
two countries on "Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in Various 
Fields" within the framework of the Composite Dialogue that 
was held in New Delhi on August 3-4, 2004, India proposed the 
following to Pakistan on October 27, 2004: 
 
i. A film festival of Pakistani films to be organized by the 
Directorate of Film Festivals in New Delhi in April 2005, and 
a festival of Indian films in Pakistan in February - March 
2005 to coincide with the Basant Festival. 
 
ii. A diploma course in Development Journalism for Pakistani 
journalists to be organized by the Indian Institute of Mass 
Communication, New Delhi, from January - April 2005. 
 
iii. Setting up of a Joint Working Group to tackle the menace 
of piracy of Indian films and music, that could include the 
representatives from the respective Ministries of Information 
and Broadcasting, film and music industry/associations and 
other apex Chambers of Commmerce and Industry. 
October 28, 2004 
 
Invitation extended to 4 (four) talented students (9 to 12 
Standard, in the age group of 13-18) and one teacher from 
Pakistan to participate in the "Children Science Congress" 
being organized by the Department of Science and Technology, 
Government of India at Guwahati on December 27-31, 2004. 
 
November 4, 2004 
 
In pursuance of India's suggestion for enhancing bilateral 
cooperation in the field of education that was made during 
Secretary (Culture) level talks in August 2004, Pakistan side 
 
SIPDIS 
was conveyed that University Grant Commission (UGC) of India 
was willing to receive a delegation from the Higher Education 
Commission of Pakistan for mutual interaction and identifying 
areas of collaboration in Higher Education in the 3rd or 4th 
week of January 2005.  Pakistani side was requested to 
confirm the dates and the composition of the delegation of 
the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan at the earliest. 
 
November 8, 2004 
 
Technical details for establishing hotline between the 
Foreign Secretaries of the two countries given to the 
Pakistan side.  End Text. 
BLAKE