India, Pakistan begin talks
to reduce nuclear risk

What is India News Service, June 19, 2004, 1500 hrs

Indian and Pakistan on Saturday kicked off their first-ever expert-level talks on nuclear confidence-building measures. The conclave is aimed at narrowing differences and reducing risk of a nuclear war between the South Asian powers.

India wants both sides to give out positive signals to their countries and to the international community. The Pakistani delegation is led by Tariq Osman Hyder, additional secretary in the Pakistan foreign office, while the Indian team is headed by Sheel Kant Sharma, additional secretary in the external affairs ministry. India has said it will not hark on past differences.

In his first major policy announcement , finance minister P Chidambaram unveiled a package for farmers. He said that he was announcing it in a hurry before the budget because the new sowing season had begun. The package will enable banks and lending institutions to provide more farmer-friendly loan schemes.

The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, has announced that it will not reduce its fees. It said it would make a provision to help needy students. Murli Manohar Joshi, the previous HRD minister, had asked the IIMs to cut their fees to a fifth of what they have been charging.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today said he was planning to open a land route to Kailash Mansarovar via Ladakh. He said he would discuss the plan with the ministries of external affairs and defence. “The route will boost the economy of the region,’’ he told reporters on the sidelines of the Sindhu Darshan festival. The three-day festival began Friday.

European Union Ambassador to New Delhi Francisco Da Camara Gomes said Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, thereby acknowledging the Indian
position on the disputed territory.

Karnataka released more than three tmc water to Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Dharam Singh, who convened a meeting of leaders of all parties on Friday evening, later told reporters the inflow into the Kabini was close to two tmc. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appealed to Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Overall:

Nuclear talks began: Indian and Pakistani experts are discussing ways of reducing the risk of a conflagration.

Government announced package: It will help farmers who are now busy sowing.

IIM-C said no fee cut: But it said it would offer scholarships to needy students.

EU endorsed India: Its ambassador acknowledged Jammu and Kashmir as part of India.