Joint Statement issued at the end of lndo-Pakistan talk held in May, 1976

Pursuant to the letter written by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 27th March and the reply of Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi of 11 April, the delegations of India and Pakistan met in Islamabad from 12 to 14 May 1976 with the objective of resuming normalisation of relations between the two countries as envisaged in the Simla Agreement. The discussions were held in a frank and friendly atmosphere.

His Excellency Shri J. S. Mehta, Foreign Secretary led the Indian delegation. He was assisted by representatives of the Ministers of External Affairs. Tourism and Civil Aviation, Finance, Home Affairs, Railways, Shipping and Transport and Commerce. The Pakistani delegation was led by Mr. Agha Shahi, Foreign Secretary. He was assisted by the representatives of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Railways, Finance, Communications, Commerce Interior, Information and Broadcasting, Law, Aviation Division, the Department of Civil Aviation, Ports and Shipping and Pakistan International Airlines Corporation.

In regard to matters relating to civil aviation, the two delegations discussed the modality of withdrawing the cases and counter claim pending before the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and agreed to send a joint letter to the Council for the purpose.

They further agreed to the resumption of overflights and the restoration of airlinks between the two countries. It was decided that expert delegaitons from the two countries will meet to work out the necessary details.

The two delegations agreed to resume goods and passenger traffic by rail through the Wagah/Attari border. In this connection the Pakistan delegation stated that the rail track on its side was already functional. The Indian delegaiton undertook to carry out the necessary repairs on its side as soon as possible.

The two sides recognised the advantage that would accrue to trade between the two countries with the resumption of freighting of goods by rail.

It was decided that the experts of the two countries should meet urgently to work out a detailed agreement regarding interchange, fright rating, compensation claims, custom formalities, the creation of a wagon pool etc. for the goods and passenger traffic between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to grant multiple journey visas valid for one year to the members of the railways staff operating on scheduled services along the specified route.

The two delegations agreed that goods meant for the other country could also be transported by road upto the Wagah/Attari border. For this purpose, they undertook to make necessary arrangements for the transshipment, warehousing, bonding and customs clearance etc.