India, Pakistan discuss starting women's cricket series

The two-day talks, which ended yesterday, focused on the dragging Kashmir dispute, peace and security, including confidence-building measures, and friendly exchanges.

"There was a suggestion for a women's cricket series," said an Indian official.
"There was also talk of creating a women's forum between the two countries," the official said.

The suggestions were part of several proposals mooted by both sides to promote friendly exchanges and people-to-people contacts.The two countries have had limited sports contacts since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Foreign cricket teams stopped touring Pakistan due to security concerns after the Sri Lankan team was attacked by terrorists in the eastern city of Lahore in March 2009.
But cricket diplomacy, as it was called, brought Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to Mohali in March to watch the India-Pakistan semi-final of the cricket World Cup at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.