New Delhi: Amid hopes of a possible breakthrough, India and Pakistan started second round of talks today (Dec 1, 2003) to discuss resumption of civil aviation links between the two countries. This comes in the wake of the December 13, 2001 terror strike on Parliament.

Director General of Civil Aviation Satinder Singh and officials lead the Indian delegation from External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministries, besides officers of Air India and Indian Airlines.

Additional Secretary in Defence Ministry Major General Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry leads the seven- member Pakistan team.

Others in Pakistan team include Chaudhry Qamar Zaman – joint secretary (aviation) in Defence Ministry, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Abid Rao – deputy director general of Civil Aviation Authority, Air Commodor Javed Ishaq Khan – director air transport of Civil Aviation Authority, besides executives of Pakistan International Airlines – Kamran Hassan, director (marketing) and Imran Jamalullais, deputy manager. An official of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi is also in the team.

Talks come in the wake of last night's announcement by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to lift ban on Indian over flights from Pakistan airspace.

The first round in Islamabad on August 27 this year had failed after Pakistan sought guarantee from India on the issue of over flights.

New Delhi has held that it cannot give any such guarantee and asked Pakistan not to impose any pre- condition for moving forward on this issue.

PTI