India and Pakistan will hold their first discussion on nuclear Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) next week.

"The two governments have agreed to go ahead with the talks despite a change of government in New Delhi, following this year'sgeneral elections," Indo-Asian News Service quoted Indian officials as saying Friday.

A new Indian government, headed by Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh is expected to take office Saturday.

Manmohan Singh, at his first press conference after his appointment as prime minister, had emphasized that his government would "move forward to improve relations with Pakistan on a priority basis."

Officials said that the seven-member Pakistani delegation to the talks would be headed by Tariq Osman Haider, Additional Secretary in the foreign ministry.

Sheel Kant Sharma, Additional Secretary in the external affairsministry, will lead the Indian side to the talks.

The decision to hold talks on nuclear CBMs was taken during themeeting of the two foreign secretaries in Islamabad on February 18as part of the composite dialogue process to resolve all bilateralissues, including Kashmir.

After India and Pakistan held nuclear tests in 1998, experts have debated whether their nuclear weapons contribute to stabilityin South Asia.

It is difficult to determine the actual size and composition ofIndia's and Pakistan's nuclear arsenals, but US-based Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that both countries have a total of 50 to 75 weapons.