Islamabad: Notwithstanding India's strong reaction to its Kashmir-centric proposals, Pakistan today (Oct 31) promised to implement all mutually agreed measures to improve bilateral relations.

However, it said New Delhi should not "obstruct steps" to provide "some relief" to Kashmiris and "not misconstrue" its proposal for UN involvement in the Srinagar-Muzzaffarabad bus service and offer of medical help to people in the state.

In a statement, the Foreign Office also maintained that India's response to its proposals was "partial and once again tries to exclude core issues".

"India should not misconstrue steps proposed by Islamabad for the welfare of Kashmiris as well as modalities for Srinagar-Muzzaffarabad bus service," the statement said, referring to India's reply to Pakistani proposals and counter-measures.

"If India is serious, it should not obstruct steps that may provide some relief to the Kashmiris trapped in a tragic situation," it said, referring to India's rebuff to its proposal for provide assistance to "Kashmiri students, widows and rape victims".

"Pakistan welcomes India's response to the proposals, though it remains partial and once again tries to exclude core issues," Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said in the statement.

Khan, however, did not react to the specific point made by India that Islamabad should pay compensation to the victims of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan urges India to reconsider and respond positively to the proposals made by Pakistan to promote confidence between the two countries and facilitate greater people to people contacts, including between Kashmiris," he said.

Khan said Pakistan believed India was "predicating greater people-to-people contacts", including resumption of air links and Samjhauta Express and introduction of Lahore-Amritsar bus service.

But Pakistan has already indicated its willingness to attend the second round of civil aviation talks in New Delhi on December 1 and 2, while making it clear that it opposed linking the outcome of the parleys on air links with technical level talks to resume air links, he said.

By making progress on air links a precondition for movement on other fronts signals "hesitancy and negative mindset" on the part of India, he said.

At the same time, he expressed Pakistan's willingness to implement all agreed confidence-building measures.

He also reiterated Islamabad's willingness to respond positively to any proposal, which is "unconditional, substantive and was aimed at the resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir issue".

PTI