Thursday, August 17 2006 12:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Aug 17, 2006) said India was for opening more transit points between Jammu and Kashmir and Pak-Occupied Kashmir to expand flow of personnel.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Singh said New Delhi would take up the issue with Pakistan.

"Our government is for expanding flow of personnel between the two sides on the Line of Control (LoC). Whenever opportunity arises, we will take up this matter with Pakistan," he said.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said Pakistan had rejected India's proposal for opening up of Suchetgarh-Sialkot border in Jammu and Kashmir.

The proposal was discussed at the last Foreign Secretary-level discussions in New Delhi in January 2006 but "Pakistan has not accepted it."

He said persons with valid permits, obtained through the due process, were allowed to cross LoC.

"There is no discrimination on the basis of religion," he said.