The Hindu : India, Pakistan reach accord

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2003

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India, Pakistan reach accord

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI DEC. 1 . India and Pakistan have agreed to resume simultaneous air links and overflights from January 1 on a reciprocal basis, a joint press statement issued by the two sides said this afternoon.

Status quo on the civil aviation front will be restored exactly two years after the ban imposed by India on overflights and direct air links from January 1, 2002 to convey its displeasure to Pakistan over the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on the Parliament House.

The agreement was reached on the very first day of what were supposed to be two-day "technical level" talks between civil aviation officials of the two countries. The statement issued after the meeting said the talks were held in a "cordial and friendly atmosphere."

"In pursuance of the announcement made by the President of Pakistan [Pervez Musharraf] on November 30, 2003, the two sides agreed to resume simultaneous air links and overflights with effect from January 1, 2004 on a reciprocal basis.

"This also completes the operationalisation of the proposal made by the Prime Minister of India in May this year for resumption of civil aviation links between the two countries," it said.

According to the statement, India agreed to a Pakistani request to use larger aircraft, up to Boeing 747 capacity, by the carriers of the two countries. "Both sides also agreed to hold further discussions to update the existing bilateral Air Services Agreement at a mutually convenient date."

The Pakistani side is said to have proposed increasing the frequency of flights that are permitted at the moment between India and Pakistan as well as adding another point of destination. Chennai is the additional destination proposed by the Pakistanis.

With Gen. Musharraf announcing on Sunday that he was ready to allow Indian aircraft to use Pakistani air space, the real thorny issue in resuming commercial air links had been addressed. Consequently, the two sides did not have any difficulty in clinching an agreement today. `

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