Pak-India Siachin talks to begin today

ISLAMABAD: Two-day defence secretaries level talks between Pakistan and India on the outstanding issue of Siachin will begin in New Delhi from today (Monday), Geo News reported.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Akhtar Ali will be leading the Pakistani delegation while the Indian side will be represented by Pradeep Kumar.

The Siachin issue surfaced when India secretly occupied a large part of Siacin glacier in 1984, triggering skirmishes between the two countries that continue till today.

Today’s will be the 12th round of defence secretary level bilateral talks resumed after gap of three years. The first round was held in 1985.

Pakistan had been demanding an end to the Siachin occupation under the Simla Pact. Talks held on the issue so far had failed to bear any fruit.

Located at an altitude of 5400 meters above sea-level, the battlefield’s temperature drops down to as low as minus 40 degrees centigrade where 95 percent of deaths occur not because of the fights but due to unbearably cold weather and difficult terrain.

Pak fails to get next tranche of IMF loan

WASHINGTON: The final round of dialogue between Pakistan and IMF ended inconclusive as the former failed to persuade in getting next tranche of loan, Geo News reported.

Pakistani delegation, headed by Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh met IMF officials in a connection with ongoing talks between Pakistan and IMF for the release of next tranche.

Talking to Geo News, Finance Minister said Pak delegation briefed IMF delegation. He said although it was a successful visit to Washington but the issue of next IMF tranche release remained unresolved.

First round of Pak-IMF talks conclude

WASHINGTON: The first round of talks between Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) over release of next tranche concluded on Sunday.

According to the sources, Pakistani delegation headed by Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh discussed the release of next tranche with IMF.

During the first round of talks, Pakistan faced difficult questions due to bad economic situation in the country.

Pakistani delegation included Secretary Finance, SBP Governor and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission.

Next round of talks would be held on Monday.

Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh also met with his Chinese counterpart in Washington. He asked Chinese companies to invest in petroleum sector in Pakistan.