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NEW DELHI (India): India and Pakistan agreed Monday to resume flights between the two countries severed nearly two years ago, with January 1, 2004 the likely start date.

The decision was reached at a meeting of Indian and Pakistan aviation officials in New Delhi, a day after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Islamabad was prepared to grant Indian planes over-flight rights.

The latest thaw in tensions between the rival neighbours comes a month before Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is slated to travel to Pakistan for a seven-nation regional summit.

Government Sources

Government sources said Indian Airlines and Pakistan International Airlines would be allowed to fly and reopen offices in the other country. A formal announcement was expected later.

January 1 is the likely date for the resumption, with Indian and Pakistani aviation officials meeting in New Delhi until Tuesday to sort out the practicalities.

The agreement came after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Sunday he favoured a complete resumption of air links, saying Islamabad was "sincere in its efforts for peace in the region."

Backdrop n' Perspective

Ending a two-year impasse, India and Pakistan Monday decided to restore from 1st January direct civil aviation links and overflights, suspended following the December 13 attack on Parliament, and agreed to meet again soon to work out modalities, an indian news agency reported.

The decision would enable Indian Airlines and Pakistan International Airlines to begin their operations well in time for the three-day SAARC Summit in Islamabad from January 4, which will be attended by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The two countries would also be able to use each other's airspace for flying to third countries. Since January one, 2002, civilian planes of the two countries have been taking long detours in view of the ban on over-flights.

Joint Statement

A joint statement issued after the meeting said "The two sides agreed to resume simultaneous air-links and over-flights with effect from January one, 2004 on a reciprocal basis."

The statement, which comes a day after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf announced Islamabad's decision to lift the ban on Indian flights over its airspace and to restore air-links, said the agreement completed the operationalisation of the proposal made by Vajpayee in May this year for resumption of civil aviation links between the two countries.