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India and Pakistan on Saturday expressed satisfaction over the progress towards normalising bilateral trade and commercial relations in a joint statement issued here after delegation-level talks. Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India, Hina Rabbani Khar and SM Krishna, firmly reiterated that both sides will scrupulously adhere to the roadmap drawn up by the two commerce ministries for full normalization of trade relations. They agreed that a strong and enhanced economic partnership is in the interest of peoples of both countries. Both ministers also welcomed reactivation of the Pakistan-India Joint Commission, in accordance with their decision taken last year. They co-chaired the plenary of the joint commission, which met for the first time after 2007. According to the joint statement, both ministers expressed satisfaction at the meetings of all eight technical-level working groups and noted that these groups have made a number of suggestions for exploring mutually beneficial cooperation in areas of agriculture, education, environment, health, information and broadcasting, information technology and telecommunication, science and technology and tourism. They also took note of and approved the report by the foreign secretaries. Khar and Krishna also reaffirmed their commitment to the goals and objectives of SAARC and agreed to make joint efforts to promote cooperation for regional development in the SAARC framework. They agreed to the launch of the next round of secretary-level dialogue on all eight segments, the schedule of which would be worked out through diplomatic channels. They further agreed that all these meetings would be held prior to their next review meeting in New Delhi in 2013.

India, Pak to normalise bilateral trade