NEW DELHI, Jan 5: India and Pakistan began talks on Thursday to finalise second rail link connecting the two countries as part of the confidence-building measures for an ongoing peace process, an Indian foreign ministry official said.

Railway officials from the two countries were to discuss visas, fares and passenger security for the Monabao-Khokhrapar train link, the official said.

Ahead of the talks, Pakistani officials said they were hopeful for a final agreement to begin the rail services.

“We hope to finalise the agreement. We have come with an open mind. This is another confidence-building measure. We will be discussing the draft proposal for the movement of passengers,” Saleemur Rehman Akhoond, the Press Trust of India quoted Pakistan Railways’ general-manager of operations as saying. — AFP