NEW DELHI, March 7: Talks between civil aviation officials from India and Pakistan ended inconclusively on Tuesday with both sides agreeing to meet again for further consultations on increasing air links and passenger flights between the South Asian neighbours.

The two sides agreed to “continue discussions to enhance capacities, frequencies and gateways for the benefit” of the people of India and Pakistan, said a joint statement issued at the end of the talks.

The negotiations, which began informally on Monday night, were aimed at reviewing an existing air services agreement and the expansion of civil aviation links between the two neighbouring countries.

Under the current agreement, signed in the 1970s, only two cities in each country — New Delhi and Bombay in India and Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan — can be linked by direct flights.

At present, only the state-run flag carriers operate on these routes, not private airlines.

India wants to change the agreement to allow multiple destinations and open the skies to private airlines, although stringent visa requirements for nationals of either side would have to be eased.

“The talks ended inconclusively. The two sides agreed to continue the dialogue at a later date,” said Maushumi Chakravarty, the civil aviation ministry spokeswoman.

Flights between the two sides were halted altogether when relations deteriorated after an attack on India’s Parliament in December 2003, which India blamed on Pakistan’s spy agency and Islamic militant groups operating from Pakistan.

The Indian charge was denied by the Pakistan government and insurgency groups.

The two countries restored air, road and train services in January 2004 when they launched a peace process to normalise relations.—AP