India and Pakistan made no breakthrough in their 50-year-old Kashmir dispute during a historic cross-border visit but agreed yesterday to take steps to ease tension and reduce the risk of nuclear war.
Indian officials said that the trip by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to Pakistan on the inaugural run of a bus service was the most important step in relations since the Shimla Agreement of 1972, which concluded the last of the two countries' three wars. The agreements signed in Lahore by Mr Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Nawaz Sharif, recognised the need to tackle their differences for the sake of regional peace.
In the first of seven steps in a "Lahore Declaration", the prime ministers said they would "intensify their efforts to resolve all issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir".
"I am happy to note that we were able to move beyond the symbolism attached to the Delhi-Lahore bus service," Mr Sharif told a news conference. "We had a comprehensive review of bilateral relations. I believe we can have good relations once we achieve a final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue."
Mr Vajpayee said it was much too early to say what solution would emerge for Kashmir, of which India controls two-thirds and claims the rest.
India rejects Pakistan's proposal for a UN plebiscite to decide the Himalayan territory's future.
The two sides, which often accuse each other of supporting terrorism in the other's country, promised to avoid "interventions and interference in each other's internal affairs". They also announced a series of measures to reduce tension, which flared to dangerous levels after both countries carried out nuclear tests last May.
The steps, including advance notification of ballistic missile tests, were likely to be welcomed by western nations alarmed at the potential for nuclear conflict.
A memorandum of understanding said India and Pakistan would take immediate steps to reduce the risk of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons. They further pledged to adopt measures to reduce "the possibility of such action or such incidents being misinterpreted by the other", and said they would establish a communication mechanism for this purpose.
The two leaders agreed to abide by moratoriums on nuclear testing that were announced after last May's nuclear tests and promised to conclude an agreement to prevent incidents at sea. They also promised to fight terrorism and to hold talks at foreign minister-level to discuss all issues, including nuclear policy.
This last proposal involves a notable upgrading of peace talks which resumed last October, but which both sides say have made no progress.
Mr Vajpayee's 30-hour visit was marred by violent protests in Lahore by groups worried that Islamabad might shelve the Kashmir issue. Riot police used teargas and engaged in baton charges to disperse demonstrators.
However, the Indian prime minister was applauded enthusiastically at a reception in the garden of the Lahore governor's residence. In an emotional off-the cuff speech he called for peace and recited a Hindi poem of his own which rejected war and violence. "In 24 hours we have reduced the distance between Delhi and Lahore," he said.
A senior Indian official said the results of the summit were remarkable given the two countries' past.