Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers met despite the earlier Mumbai explosions that killed 24 people, seriously injured more than 100 individuals and stirred up India’s suspicion about a possible Pakistani hand in the explosions because of historic violence carried out by Pakistani-born individuals.

Pushing aside the Mumbai bombings, the Indian government worked with Pakistani officials to make a small yet significant step forward to peace and progress regarding the region of Kashmir and other key areas (mostly water sources) which has been disputed between the two countries since the formation of both India and West Pakistan.

Conflicts, including a couple of wars, arose over disputed regions which made other countries in the world anxious as both Pakistan and India both possess nuclear weapons.

As a result of the conflicts, Kashmir’s inhabitants have seen to increases and decreases (mostly increases) in curfews and frustrated protesters clashing with the authorities.

In this meeting, a few agreements were made regarding the border trade in Kashmir.

Officials decided to double the border trade.

Moreover, both governments have agreed on allowing inhabitants of Kashmir to cross over either side of the countries’ borders more easily by shortening the amount of time it takes for government-issued travel permits to be acquired.

The foreign ministers concluded the meeting by scheduling another crucial meeting date in the first half of the year 2012.

(Cover Photo: SHABIR IBN YUSUF/ SHABIR-UL-HAQ/Kashmir Times)