India offers Pakistan air talks

India says it is ready to hold talks with Pakistan on the resumption of air links between the two countries.

A bus service could resume in July

The move has been seen as another sign of improving relations between the rival governments.

Similar discussions aimed at re-establishing a bus service between India and Pakistan were held in Delhi last week.

Flights were stopped in December 2001 after an attack on the Indian Parliament building which Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

A statement issued by the Indian external affairs ministry said they had suggested to Pakistan "the early convening of technical level discussions for the resumption of civil aviation, on a reciprocal basis."

Bus service

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Masood Khan said they would pass details of India's request to the Civil Aviation Authority before making a formal response.

Last week India and Pakistan completed talks about resuming a bus service between the Indian capital Delhi and the Pakistani city of Lahore.

Although both sides said they were technically ready to resume the bus service from 1 July, no date has yet been fixed for it.

The moves are being seen as part of recent peace efforts initiated by both India and Pakistan.

In April, Indian and Pakistani leaders said they would attempt to improve relations and possibly resume talks on the disputed region of Kashmir.

Last year Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf offered to restore direct air links with India as long as Delhi reciprocated.