Date:06/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/06/stories/2003080604691100.htm

National

Indo-Pak. talks on resumption of air links this month-end

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 5. Civil aviation authorities of India and Pakistan will meet this month end to discuss the modalities for resuming air services, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Replying to supplementaries during question hour, the Civil Aviation Minister, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said technical-level talks would be held in Islamabad on August 27 and 28.

Pakistan had proposed a date for discussing the technical modalities, which would include point-to-point services, rationalisation of aeronautical charges, overflights and increasing points of services. Air links between the two neighbours were snapped after the December 13, 2001 terrorist strike on Parliament.

Mr. Rudy said that alternative dates of September 3 and 4 for the meeting were also found agreeable.

It was at the initiative of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, that a decision was taken for restoration of air links.

In reply to the main question by R. Ramachandraiah (Telugu Desam Party), Mr. Rudy said the Pakistan International Airlines and Indian Airlines had bilateral arrangements for providing ground handling, security and other services to each other's flights at airports.