Pakistan and India have settled the agenda for their groundbreaking series of peace talks to end more than a half-century of conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals.
In a statement Wednesday, India and Pakistan said the first stage of peace talks will take place at various levels, beginning next month and culminating with a meeting of foreign ministers in August.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says the disputed territory of Kashmir - which has sparked two of the three wars between the neighboring nations - will be a focus of negotiations.
President Musharraf told a meeting of religious scholars that the residents of war-torn Kashmir will have a role in the peace process.
President Musharraf said,"After the foreign ministers' composite dialogue takes place, insha'allah, we will see what happens next. At that point, we will have to decide when the Kashmiris will be included."
The talks will be the first peace effort in nearly three years.