New Delhi: Congress on October 22 extended its full support to the government's measures to normalise relations with Pakistan.

"We support these confidence building measures. These are steps in the direction of normalising relations between India and Pakistan. We support this process," chief spokesman of the party S Jaipal Reddy said when asked to comment on government's fresh initiative, offering 12 packages to Pakistan.

Welcoming the government's fresh peace initiative with Pakistan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it reflected India's serious efforts to usher in peace in the sub-continent.

"It is a welcome step and shows the serious initiative of India for peace," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said when asked to comment on decisions taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), including full resumption of cricketing and other sporting links, and launching of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

He said now it was for Pakistan to reciprocate.

"Ultimately, we have to achieve a real and lasting peace in the sub-continent," he said.

New Delhi has also offered a second round of talks to restore air links and over-flights, technical-level discussions for resumption of Samjhauta Express rail service and increasing the capacity of Delhi- Lahore Bus service.

PTI