KARACHI, Jan 9: Pakistan has proposed to India that the two countries should reciprocally grant each other the most favoured nation status in the aviation sector.

"We gave an informal proposal to the Indian government to this effect during the course of negotiations held for the resumption of air links," defence secretary Hamid Nawaz Khan told reporters at a passing-out ceremony of Airport Security Force (ASF) here on Friday.

"India has not given a reply yet," the defence secretary added. He hoped that Pakistan will soon expand its flight operations to more cities in the neighbouring country.

He said once the two countries declared each other the most favoured country in the aviation sector, the travellers will have the freedom to go to any city of the two countries.

Pakistan communicated to India its desire to expand its flight operations to Hyderabad (Daccan) and Chennai in the near future, he said. "India also wants to operate its flight from Islamabad, and both the countries have no objection to these proposals," Mr Khan added.

In the first phase, three flights-a-week were to be operated on Mumbai-Karachi and Lahore-New Delhi routes. However, two flights are being run right now as the passenger load would grow with the passage of time.

Replying to a question about the opening of the Indian high commission in Karachi, he said: "We are considering opening not only the consulate but also the Khokhrapar-Monabao route. However, it will take some time before the confidence-building measures, being taken now, remove the long-held suspicions about each other."

Expressing displeasure over the Indian move to fence its border with Pakistan, he said: "We will resist and stop India from doing this." He said Pakistan had restrained India during the past four years from erecting a fence along the Sialkot border.

"India is taking advantage of the ceasefire and erecting fence behind mountains where Pakistan could not stop it. We are exerting international and political pressure to halt this exercise," he said.

He said arrangements were made for the observers of the United Nations to visit those areas where Pakistan could not stop India from erecting fencing. They witnessed the situation and prepared a report on it.

He denied giving more air bases to the US forces, saying: "Pakistan has provided them only one base at Jacobabad where they are being provided with logistic support."

Earlier, the defence secretary witnessed the passing-out parade held at the conclusion of the 37th basic aviation security course during which training was imparted to 682 new recruits, including 64 girls.

He praised the skills and techniques demonstrated by the ASF recruits. Demonstration of anti-terrorist and anti-hijacking techniques was also made. Later, the secretary awarded medals and prizes to those who performed outstandingly.