Islamabad, Feb 16: Ending a long freeze in bilateral relations, India and Pakistan today discussed modalities and time frame for resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries, as day one of their three-day 'talks for talks' ended here this evening. Officials said that the talks were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere and both delegations exchanged proposals on the modalities and time frame for the composite dialogue.
The Indian delegation at the talks was led by Arun Singh (joint secretary, PAI, external affairs ministry) while Pakistan side was headed by Jaleel Abbas Jilani, director general, South Asia. The two sides will meet again tomorrow for the second day which will be followed by discussions between foreign secretary Shashank and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Khokar on February 18. ''We are going to start the process agreed to in the joint statement. That will mean looking into modalities for the dialogue process and see what meetings should be organised in the next few months to keep up the dialogue on a sustained basis,'' officials said.

They said that the process about the eight-point composite dialogue, agreed to by India and Pakistan in 1997, would be started and likely scheduling of meetings taken up.
The eight issues comprise peace and security including confidence-building measures, Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism, Tulbul navigation project, Sir Creek, Siachen and trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
In Delhi, a spokesman of the external affairs ministry said that talks between the two delegations were held in a ''cordial and constructive manner'' and the two discussed modalities and time frame for resumption of the composite dialogue.
''Some proposals were exchanged in this regard,'' the spokesman said. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the progress made on the first day,'' he said.
The talks are the first real test of the two sides' willingness to show flexibility on long-entrenched positions on various issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
These are being held more than five years after the India-Pakistan dialogue process derailed following sharp differences on critical issues against the backdrop of their tit-for-tat nuclear tests.
The decision by the two countries to revive their composite dialogue to peacefully resolve their differences follows the joint statement issued by them after the ice-breaking meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf here on January 5 on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit.
Bureau Report