India, Pakistan discuss resumption of cricketing ties, trade

New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan on Thursday discussed ways to resume cricketing ties between the two countries.

Expressing hope that the equation would continue to develop on a positive trajectory, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said he had put forward some suggestions on the issue.

Mathai, however, said the possibility of cricketing ties being resumed between India and Pakistan was a decision that had to be taken by the respective cricket boards of the two countries.

"There is also a concern of security" he says, but refused to comment further.

Both Mathai and Jilani also briefly talked about trade ties and the relationship between India and Pakistan.

Both sides recognized the need to strengthen the existing Cross-LoC CBMs for streamlining the arrangements to facilitate travel and trade across LOC.

They decided to convene a meeting of the Working Group on Cross-LoC CBMs on July 19, 2012 in Islamabad to recommend steps for strengthening and streamlining and effectively implementing the existing trade and travel arrangements and propose modalities for introducing additional cross LoC CBMs.

The two foreign Secretaries are scheduled to meet again in Islamabad to prepare for the meeting of Foreign Ministers in September. (ANI)