Top Indian and Pakistani defence officials began talks hereFriday on demilitarising a glacier in disputed
The talks will centre on the disclosure of Pakistani military positions inthe 6,300-metre (20,800-feet) Siachen glacier, which
A nine-member Indian delegation led by Defence Secretary Shekhar Duttarrived in
"The two sides are trying to arrive at some consensus on indicatingpresent positions held by troops of each (side) on the glacier beforewithdrawal of forces," a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official toldAFP on condition of anonymity.
"If an agreement is reached in the meeting it will be formallyannounced when leaders of
The talks are part of the peace process launched in January 2004 byHindu-majority
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday called a meeting of hissecurity cabinet to chalk out a framework for the Siachen talks. He was laterquoted as saying he was "hopeful" of a positive outcome.
Experts say
Pakistani analyst and retired army general Talat Masood said the statementsfrom both sides in the run-up to the talks were "fairly optimistic."
"It seems there is a possibility the Siachen issue could be settled nowor the signing could be when the Indian prime minister visits
"There is some sense of strategic value of the glacier because Siachenborders
"But its real value is political and psychological for both as it liesin disputed