December 3, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: India on Tuesday officially communicated to Pakistan its offer to host talks on Dec 18-19 for resuming the train service between the two countries.

Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan confirmed that India had proposed Dec 18-19 for technical level talks for resuming Samjhota Express between Lahore and New Delhi.

“The dates have been conveyed to us through our High Commission in New Delhi and we have referred the matter to the railway authorities,” the spokesman told Dawn. India has also offered to host these talks, he added.

Welcoming the Indian move, Mr Khan said: “We are glad that there is some movement on this front because the bulk of travellers from Pakistan and India used Samjhota Express and that is why the proposal to revive the rail link was made repeatedly by Pakistan in May, August, October and then in November.”

A senior official at the foreign ministry said that resumption of the train service could lead to restoration of full communication links between the two countries prior to the Saarc summit.