Issues like increasing air connectivity and starting trade in petroleum products are expected to figure in the two-day Commerce Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan beginning Thursday in Islamabad.

Commerce Secretary S R Rao is leading a 10-member official delegation to Islamabad to meet his Pakistani counterpart Munir Qureshi.

The last commerce secretary level talks were held in November 2011 in New Delhi.

Both sides will discuss various issues including development on negative list between the two countries and bilateral trade.

The officials said during the meeting Pakistan and India will sign three agreements including, Agreement of Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs matters, Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, Ministry of Science and Technology and the Bureau of Indian Standards, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and both countries will also sign agreement on Redressal of Trade Grievances.

It was a review meeting and development in broad areas of cooperation, including power and petroleum products will be part of discussion. Opening of bank branches will also be reviewed.

The issues of phasing out of Negative List, opening of Wagah land route and preferential arrangements under SAFTA will also be discussed.