Indo-Pak talks on air links stall

Last week talks between India and Pakistan for increasing air links failed to lead to any breakthrough.

According to senior civil aviation ministry officials, the Indian side was not keen on permitting unlimited access to Pakistani carriers unless it got similar treatment from the Pakistani side.

"No breakthrough could be achieved on the number of flights that Indian private carriers would be permitted to fly to Pakistan," an official said.

The discussion on civil aviation comes ahead of the second meeting of the Joint Study Group in Islamabad on March 27. This would be followed by the third round of composite dialogue on economic and commercial cooperation on March 28-29. The Indian side would be led by Commerce Secretary SN Menon.

Some of the issues which are expected to figure during the composite dialogue include visas and transit facilities through Pakistan for Indian goods to Afghanistan.

India is also expected to take up the issue of Indian public sector investment in Pakistan's gas sector. Allowing banks to set up branches in each other's country is also expected to be discussed.

Indian banks like State Bank of India and Bank of India have evinced interest in opening branches in Pakistan while Habib Bank of Pakistan has submitted an application for opening a branch in India.

The two sides also talked about permitting private carriers from both the countries to operate flights.