New Delhi: India and Pakistan today (Dec 7, 2004) began their two-day talks on the resumption of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service with New Delhi suggesting that passengers should carry entry permits along with passports.

Sources said, the Indian side, led by Joint Secretary for Road Transport, Alok Rawat suggested that entry permits must be used along with passports by the passengers travelling on the proposed bus service.

However, Pakistan's reaction to the proposal was not immediately known. Its delegation headed by Jalil Abbas Jilani evaded a reply on the issue.

Emerging out of the two-hour long meeting, Jilani said discussions on the bus service covered a lot of issues.

"Discussions were very good and are continuing. We will now meet tomorrow (Dec 8, 2004)," he said.

Pakistan had in the run up to the talks reportedly made it clear that it would like only Kashmiris living on either side of the LoC (Line of Control) to use the bus service.

India, on the other hand, does not favour restricting the service only to Kashmiris and said all Indians should be allowed to use the service.