Results of Talks with Pakistan Encouraging: Pranab
Pakistan Times National News Desk

NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has described the results of talks with Pakistan as encouraging.When asked about improvement of ties between India and Pakistan in Shimla on Sunday, he said "talks are going on."

"We have held three rounds of discussions results of which were encouraging." He was in Shimla to deliver his keynote address at concluding session of South Asia Free Media Association.

He was of the view that various Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) have been taken on both sides of Line of Control.

When questioned about functioning of the three committees constituted by the Union government for deliberating on troops reduction in occupied Kashmir, he expressed satisfaction over their working.

He said theme of connectivity in South Asia would be carried forward by upgrading trade transport and telecommunication links." understanding would be promoted through greater people-to- people contact, particularly among youth, cultural personalities, academics and parliamentarians.

Work to establish South Asian University has started. The first SAARC Cultural Festival will be held in November this year in India besides holding first exhibition of SAARC Museum of Textiles and Handicraft at the end of year. A SAARC fashion festival has also been planned, he said.

Mukherjee said SAARC Food Bank would also be developed as an exemplary model of regional cooperation to collectively meet food shortages case of emergencies.●