India and Pakistan resume peace talks

Islamabad: Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan resumed peace talks on Tuesday for the first time since Islamabad's new civilian government took over from military rule.

Pakistan said it would release nearly 100 Indian prisoners in a goodwill gesture as it resumed peace talks with India on Tuesday for the first time since Islamabad's new civilian government took over from military rule.

Both of the neighbor countries want to sustain the slow-moving dialogue, which has eased tensions since it began four years ago, but the instability of the new government that took office seven weeks ago could further hinder progress.

Sivshankar Menon, the top civil servant at the Indian foreign ministry, met with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in Islamabad to review the four rounds of talks held since the peace process began in early 2004.

The two countries' foreign ministers were scheduled to meet on Wednesday.

A statement from Pakistan said the two sides will discuss issues including Kashmir, the two countries' military standoff at the high-altitude Siachen Glacier, terrorism and drug trafficking — as well as economic cooperation.

Officials will also "deliberate on how to address the outstanding issues in a more meaningful way," the statement said..

During his stay in Pakistan, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the once-dominant Musharraf, now seen as a marginal figure.

Pakistan's state news agency reported that Mukherjee might also meet PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari, as well as ex-premier Nawaz Sharif.