India and Pakistan today began the two-day talks in Islamabad, on nuclear and conventional confidence-building measures, CBMs, as part of the peace process between the two countries.

While today's discussions will focus on conventional CBMs, nuclear issues will be taken up tomorrow. Issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir, missile tests and steps to boost cross-LoC trade and travel are likely to be discussed in the meeting.

The 10-member Indian delegation includes diplomats, who handle issues related to Pakistan and disarmament.

D. Bala Verma, Director General (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), is leading the group on nuclear CBMs, while Yashwant K Sinha, Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) heads the group on conventional CBMs.

The Pakistani side is led by Additional Secretary Munawar Saeed Bhatti.

This is the fifth round of expert-level talks on conventional CBMs and the sixth on nuclear CBMs.

The decision to re-convene the two groups was made when the two Foreign Secretaries met in Islamabad in June this year.