Indo-Pak Defence Secretary level talks begin, Siachen on agenda

New Delhi, May 30 (ANI): The defence-secretary level talks between India and Pakistan on the long-pending Siachen issue kicked off here on Monday after a gap of four years.

Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar is leading the Indian delegation at the two-day talks, while Lt General (Retd) Syed Ather Ali is leading the Pakistani delegation.

India and Pakistan decided to resume the talks after Prime Ministers of both the nations met in Thimpu last year and decided to carry forward the dialogue process.

The Pakistani delegation has two civilian officials and four military officers, while the Indian delegation includes Special Secretary R K Mathur, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen A M Verma and Surveyor General S Subha Rao.

Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ather Ali, who arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the 12th round of talks, will call on Defence Minister A K Antony after the talks here this evening.

Siachen, the world's highest militarised zone, has been a long pending issue between India and Pakistan over differences on the location of the 110-km long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), which passes through the Saoltoro Ridge and Siachen glacier. (ANI)