The long pending agreement to liberalise the existing visa regime is still caught in the red tape. However, sources indicated that Islamabad has given its consent for issuing visas for “group tourism” to religious destinations. The issue over here is the revision of the 1974 protocol on religious sites in both countries. Currently, there are only five sites each in respective countries. India is keen to increase this number and apply the liberalised visa regime to this amended protocol.

Besides this, key issues such as the Kashmir issue, Siachen and military CBMs will come up for detailed deliberations given that a new democratically elected Government is now in place in Islamabad. Moreover, the talks are happening after a delay of nearly five month, largely due to the transition process in Pakistan.

The one issue on which both sides have come closer to a final settlement is Sir Creek.