ISLAMABAD, July 16: In another step towards normalization of relations with India, Pakistan on Wednesday formally conveyed its acceptance of a proposal by New Delhi to start talks on resumption of air links between the two countries.
“Pakistan has agreed to host expert-level talks between the Civil Aviation authorities of Pakistan and India to consider all aspects for resumption of air links between the two countries,” said an official statement.
Pakistan communicated this to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs through its High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
India had suggested to Pakistan early convening of technical- level talks for restoring air-links after conclusion of talks on resumption of bi-weekly New Delhi-Lahore bus service last month.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has instructed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to work out dates for the meeting that would also address the issue of overflights facility.
In May 2002 India had proposed revival of overflights without resumption of air links but Pakistan rejected this proposal as being self-serving.
While in Pakistan 13 to 18 flights are being affected every week due to the withdrawal of overflights facility, in India 113 flights are being affected in a week.
“The dates for the meeting would be fixed after mutual consultations in due course,” a foreign office spokesman said.
During the talks Pakistan officials would push for a formal pact that would guard against unilateral withdrawal of this facility, informed sources told Dawn.
This decision has been taken in view of the fact that the Indian government has unilaterally severed air links twice since 1971, causing disruption and revenue losses to Pakistan.
The thinking in the official circles is that before restoring the civil aviation links a proper agreement should be worked out to keep a check against any unilateral step in future.
“There is need for a mechanism that would safeguard the interest of both the countries,” a senior official maintained, pointing to the past experience.
India unilaterally snapped bus, air and rail links with Pakistan after an armed attack on its Parliament in December 2001. New Delhi claimed it was sponsored by Islamabad but Pakistan strongly rejected the allegation.
As a consequence of the stalled air links both India and Pakistan have suffered huge revenue losses that run into millions of rupees.
India had unilaterally snapped air links previously in 1971 but Pakistan chose against retaliatory measure. Instead Pakistan lodged a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Reportedly the ICAO passed a judgment against India that it was in violation of International Aviation. However, this time round Pakistan exercised a tit-for-tat measure.
IRAQ SITUATION: The foreign office spokesman welcomed the formation of a Governing Council in Iraq and termed it a first step towards returning governance and restoring sovereignty to the people of Iraq, APP adds.
The spokesman was responding to a question about the formation of the governing council in Iraq.
He said it had always been Pakistan’s principled position, within and outside the UN Security Council, that governance be returned and sovereignty be restored to the people of Iraq as soon as possible.
The spokesman expected that the Governing Council would initiate contacts with diplomatic missions in Baghdad, where Pakistan was represented.
YASIN MALIK: The spokesman strongly condemned the arrest of senior APHC Leader Yasin Malik and demanded of India to end harassment of Kashmiri political leadership and urged it to enter into a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan to solve the Kashmir dispute.
“The arrest betrays Indian claims that it is seeking a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute,” the spokesman said.
