Thursday, March 24 2005 13:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government yesterday (Mar 23, 2005) said it would explore other bus routes between India and Pakistan after bus services between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and Lahore and Amritsar start.

It is the Indian Government's policy to promote trade and economic relations with Pakistan and encourage better travel facilities between the two countries, Minister of State for External Affairs Inderjit Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Singh said that Pakistan's response was awaited on India's proposal to designate a few places along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) where the relatives on both the sides could meet.

The places suggested were Poonch, Mendhar, Suchetgarh, Uri and Tangdhar in Neelam valley, Singh said, adding the proposal was made during foreign secretary-level talks in Islamabad on December 27.

India and Pakistan had agreed to bus services on the two routes during External Affairs Minster K Natwar Singh's Pakistan visit in February, he pointed out.