India and Pakistan will begin a peace dialogue next month on all topics including the flashpoint issue of Kashmir, India's foreign minister said today.
"To carry the process of normalisation forward, the president of Pakistan and the prime minister of India agreed to commence the process of a composite dialogue in February 2004," said Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha.
Mr Sinha said details, including the location of the talks, were still to be worked out, but he said the talks would be ongoing and expressed optimism they would lead to a lasting peace agreement, including the issue of Kashmir.
The surprise announcement followed high level meetings between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which concluded in Islamabad today.
There had been no indication such a breakthrough was possible, and both sides had sought to dampen any expectations ahead of the summit. Both sides had said that discussion of bilateral issues had no place at the summit.
PA