India, Pakistan to hold third round of nuclear talks next month

NEW DELHI, Sunday (AFP)

Indian and Pakistani experts will meet next month for a third round of talks aimed at building trust on military issues and avoiding the possibility of an accidental nuclear war, Indian officials said at the weekend.

The experts are scheduled to meet August 5-6 in New Delhi to discuss nuclear weapons and then again two days later to consider conventional arms, the Press Trust of India news agency said quoting Indian officials.

"The two sides will review the progress made so far in the last two rounds held on nuclear confidence-building measures and steps to carry them forward," Press Trust of India said quoting Indian officials.

Experts from the two sides met in December 2004 in Pakistan when they agreed to push forward plans for a nuclear hotline but failed to reach a deal on advanced warning of ballistic missile tests.

In January this year, the two countries exchanged lists of their nuclear facilities in line with a bilateral agreement signed in 1998 prohibiting attacks againts each other's nuclear installations.

Although the two countries normally inform each other when holding missile tests, no formal deal has been signed. The meeting next month in New Delhi is likely to focus on making prior notification a standard procedure for carrying out missile tests.