The Sir Creek survey has been ordered to commence this November, and work to be done on the resolution of maritime boundaries. It has been decided to also implement agreements and “understandings already reached on LOC-related CBMs including bus services, crossing points and truck service.”

The Prime Minister has agreed to the invitation of the General to visit Pakistan, though the time for what the PM called a “purposeful visit” would be decided by “diplomatic channels.” There were no questions as the end of the joint appearance of the two leaders but Musharraf, buttonholed by the Indian media, said his lips were sealed and then agreed to mouth a line suggested by a journalist, “Mohabbat Zindabad” — a line inspired by the legendary song from Mughal-e-Azam.

The process behind this joint statement started with an ice-breaker yesterday with the Indian Foreign Secretary-designate Shiv Shanker Menon meeting his counterpart Riaz Khan for lunch. After that, in Hotel Cohibe, where the Pakistan President was staying, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan also met his counterpart Tariq Aziz and the minutiae of the document were debated and sealed. After his meeting with Musharraf, the Prime Minister met Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.