This assumes significance in the wake of the upcoming third ministerial conference of WTO in November in Seattle in USA where developing countries are closing their ranks to have a unified strategy to ensure market access is not denied by erecting non tariff barriers by industrialised nations.While India has already given most favoured nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, the latter is yet to reciprocate which is mandatory under the WTO agreement.The just concluded G-15 summit at Montego Bay at Jamaica resolved to hold an inter-ministerial meeting at New Delhi in July to finalise a common strategy for the WTO ministerial meet.

Developing countries are insistent that the existing WTO agreementsshould be implemented in letter and spirit including special and preferrential treatment clause to protect the interests of the South before new issues are taken up.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan agreed to intensify their efforts to resolve all bilateral issues including the problem of Jammu and Kashmir and refrain from intervention and interference in each other's internal affairs.A "Lahore declaration' issued after two-days of crucial talks between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif said the two sides have decided to "intensify their composite and integrated dialogue process for an early and positive outcome of the agreed bilateral agenda." The declaration, signed by Vajpayee and Sharif, recognised that nuclear dimension of the security environment of the two countries added to their responsibility for avoidance of conflict between them and reiterated their determination to implement the 1972 Simla agreement in "letter and spirit".

It said New Delhi andIslamabad were committed to the objectives of universal nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Sharing a vision of peace and stability between the two countries, and of progress and prosperity of their peoples, it said the leaders were convinced that durable peace and development of harmonious relation and friendly cooperation would serve the vital interests of the peoples of the two countries, enabling them to devote their energies for a better future. The declaration said the two sides were convinced of the importance of mutually agreed confidence building measures (CBMs) for improving the security environment.

The two leaders reiterated their agreement of September 23, 1998 in New York that an environment of peace and security was in the National interest of both sides and that the resolution of all outstanding issues including J and K was essential for this purpose. Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan K raghunath and Shamshad Ahmad signed an eight-point memorandum of understanding (MoU)agreeing that new Delhi and Islamabad would engage in bilateral consultations on security concepts and nuclear doctrines with a view to developing measures for confidence building in the nuclear and conventional fields aimed at avoidance. The two countries agreed to notify each other in advance in respect of ballistic missile flight tests and decided to conclude a bilateral agreement in this regard.

Meet on nuke issues

India and Pakistan on Sunday decided that their foreign ministers will meet periodically to discuss nuclear related issues and other matters of mutual concern.

A joint statement issued at the end of the two-day historic visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Pakistan said the two sides would hold consultations to further liberalise the visa and travel regime between them.Both the countries agreed to appoint a two-member ministerial committee to examine humanitarian issues relating to civilian detainees and missing prisoners of war (POWs).