Islamabad: Pakistan on October 23 began consultations within various government departments on the series of offers made by India to normalise bilateral ties before formulating a formal response, even as top Kashmiri politicians cautiously welcomed the proposal of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Ministries of Interior, Transport, Fisheries and Foreign Affairs, were involved in the consultations on the proposals, sources said.

Pakistan wants to carefully weigh pros and cons before it reacts to the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, they said.

Pakistan officials admit that an agreement to run a bus service connecting the two sides of Kashmir could lead to softening the line of control (LoC) and may open the floodgates of migration.

Also Pakistan has to evaluate the impact of such a bus service on militant groups as well as PoK-based political parties, they said.

Reacting to the proposal, former Prime Minister and President of Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan said it was "welcome" if aimed at bringing Kashmiris on both sides closer.

He, however, wondered if such a service was feasible given the constant "heavy firing" between the two Armies along the LoC.

While India's proposal to have bus links between Khokharapar in Sindh and Munabao in Rajasthan was on the cards for sometime, Islamabad appeared to be caught by surprise over New Delhi's "daring" proposal to have a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK.

The rush for the bus services from Sindh and Muzaffarabad could create a great rush for travel to India as most of the people in both the provinces have more relatives on the other side.

"In view of the complexities, Pakistan may take some time to react to the proposal," the sources said.

Qayyum Khan said he was "sceptical" whether such a service was feasible "without a comprehensive peace deal on Kashmir between the two countries."

India should have discussed the technicalities with Pakistan before it made the proposal. Such proposals would succeed if there was change of heart but not change of strategy, Qayyum, who heads the ruling Muslim Conference party of PoK, said.

He said both the countries should not insist on passport and Visa requirements for Kashmiris to travel between Srinagar and Muzaffarbad. "They should be allowed on the basis of their identity cards issued by their particular provinces," he suggested, adding that it would take time for both the countries to start the bus services in Kashmir.

India and Pakistan should permit Kashmiris on both sides to meet and finalise a solution, Qayyum, considered to be a moderate, said.

He also said India should permit Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan to find an amicable solution to the Kashmir issue.

PTI