NEW DELHI, Aug 11: India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged visas of officials, 19 from India and 17 from Pakistan, to strengthen their respective missions.

Officials from Islamabad and New Delhi will be replacing their respective missions on both sides, maintaining the existing strength of 47.

The lists of these officials were coordinated and passports handed over at both ends on Monday, sources said.

India had decided to trim down 50 per cent of its staff strength of 110 at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad in the wake of an attack on its parliament in December 2001, which further went down to 47.

With peace initiative taken by leadership of the two countries, both sides have appointed their high commissioners. Delhi-Lahore bus service has also been resumed.

The technical level meetings to discuss resumption of air services are slated to be held in Islamabad by end of August. —APP