The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan held talks Friday on the ongoing peace process between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals, including their dispute over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir.
The meeting was the second between Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, since a civilian government took power in Pakistan and comes ahead of a new round of peace talks scheduled to begin in July.
Qureshi said Friday's talks would focus on deepening the peace process, differences over Kashmir, and bilateral trade.
"The ongoing peace process is central to peace, security and prosperity in our region," he said in a statement after arriving in the Indian capital.
Expectations of progress on Kashmir have been dampened by the sidelining of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who was instrumental in pushing for a solution to the Kashmir dispute.
Musharraf dominated Pakistan for eight years but gave up his post as army chief last year and has taken a back seat since the new government took power. It is unclear if he retains any influence over the peace process.
Musharraf had previously proposed various ideas for resolving the Kashmir dispute, including a possible joint administration of the region, but India reacted cautiously. A cease-fire line currently serves as a de facto border.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars _ two over Kashmir _ since gaining independence from Britain six decades ago, but relations have improved since they embarked on a peace process in 2004.
However, little progress has been made over Kashmir, which both countries claim.
At the last meeting, Qureshi said Pakistan stood by its position that the dispute must be resolved in line with U.N. resolutions that call for a referendum for Kashmiris on whether they want to be part of Pakistan or India _ a position opposed by India.
Qureshi is also expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders during his trip.
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