Karachi, Bombay consulates to reopen

Even though no new ground was broken on the festering Jammu and Kashmir dispute, India and Pakistan took some steps on Monday to inject confidence in each other and resolved to take the peace process forward “in an atmosphere free from terrorism and violence’’.

The confidence-building measures included immediate restoration of the strengths of their respective high commissions to 110 from the present 75, the immediate release of all fishermen in each other’s custody, and initiation of steps for the early release of civilian prisoners.

After the two-day dialogue between foreign secretary Shashank and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Khokhar, held after a gap of six years, the two sides also agreed in principle to reopen their consulates in Mumbai and Karachi.