Islamabad: Pakistan today (Oct 29) agreed to hold technical level talks with India on resumption of air links between the two countries on December 1 and 2 but made it clear it cannot be linked to restoration of rail links.

Responding to India's October 22 proposals, it proposed to have technical level discussions in the first half of December on resumption of Samjhauta Express.

Making the announcements, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar said, "We have carefully studied the Indian proposals and have decided to respond positively. We hope that India would also respond positively to Pakistani proposals."

Referring to India's assertion that it would hold talks on restoring rail links subsequent to aviation talks, Khokhar said, "We do not accept any linkage in resumption of air link and restoration of rail links".

About India's proposals for opening of Visa camps, he said it was a good idea and in-principle Pakistan accepted it but it was not possible given the existing staff strength of the diplomatic missions in the two countries.

He proposed restoration of staff strength of the diplomatic missions to 110, which existed in December 2001.

Khokhar said Pakistan welcomed India's proposal for bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) but the checkpoints should be supervised by UN officials and people should travel on UN documents since it is a "disputed area".

PTI