India-Pak Peace Dialogue To Start In February

"The two leaders agreed to commence the process of composite dialogue in February 2004," Sinha told a press briefing in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf held their first talks since near-war in 2002 on the sidelines of a seven-nation summit on Monday, January 5.

The two leaders also spoke by phone Tuesday when Vajpayee phoned General Musharraf at the conclusion of the three day summit to thank him for its success and for arrangements for the Indian delegation, Sinha said.

In a joint statement issued after the summit’s closure, Vajpayee and Musharraf agreed violence and terrorism had to end.

"Prime Minister Vajpayee said that in order to take forward and sustain the dialogue process, violence, hostility and terrorism must be prevented," Sinha said, reading from the statement.

"President Musharraf reassured Prime Minister Vajpayee that he will not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner," the statement said, according to Sinha.

‘History Made’

Commenting on the developments, Musharraf declared Tuesday "history has been made" in breakthrough talks with nuclear rival India.

"I am very glad to announce that history has been made," General Musharraf told a press conference.

"We have arrived at an agreement on taking this normalization process forward and setting a framework for taking it to its logical length and its culmination."

The joint statement marks a dramatic change from the Indian official position adopted Monday – even after the historic Musharraf-Vajpayee meeting Monday.

“It was a courtesy call as we had requested on General Pervez Musharraf,” Sinha said and told the questioning media not to expect much in terms of the outcome of the meeting.

The Indian Foreign Minister Monday said there was no joint statement, following the leader’s meeting.

“We should be very careful while making comments about such a high level meeting,” Sinha has said when reporters drew his attention towards a statement made by the Pakistani Information Minister.

Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has earlier dubbed the meeting as historic.

“The two leaders discussed all the issues of bilateral nature. They have made some concrete decisions and you will see the outcome very soon,” Ahmed added.