18 February 2008

Pakistan, India in air pact

NEW DELHI - Pakistan and India have agreed to double the number of weekly passenger flights between the two countries.

They have also agreed to expand the number of destinations served by the flights and to allow more airlines to operate the routes.

Currently a total of 12 flights a week link the Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai with the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Karachi respectively.

The deal is seen as a sign of warming ties between the nuclear-armed rivals.

In a joint statement released after the deal was signed in Islamabad, the two countries said they hoped the agreement would facilitate "people to people contact, business and trade activities".

At present, only one airline from each country - Indian Airlines and Pakistan International Airways - is allowed to fly between the four cities.

The new deal would enable each side to designate up to three airlines for all the routes.

The number of routes will itself be increased to include the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and the southern Indian city of Madras (Chennai).

The deal will pave the way for direct flights between the capitals of both countries

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