India, Pakistan begin talks on rail link

The talks will also finalise modalities for resumption of the train service.

Railway officials of India and Pakistan began their two-day talks on Thursday to finalise the modalities as well as the dates for the resumption of the Munabao-Khokhrapar train service between the two countries.

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A high-level 10-member Pakistani delegation headed by Saleemur Rehman Akhund, General Manager (Operational), Pakistan Railways, held discussions with the Indian team headed by Ashok Gupta, Advisor Traffic (Indian Railways) on various issues, including travel documents and visas for travel on the railway route, customs duty, fare for the journey and security of passengers and the train.

Before going in for the talks, Akhund said that he was hopeful of finalising the agreement for resumption of rail services on the route between the two countries.

"We hope to finalise the agreement. We have come with an open mind. This is another confidence building measure and we will be discussing the draft proposal for the movement of passengers," he said.

The visiting delegation also included Mohammad Saleem, Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Syed Ijaz Ali Gilani, Minister of Interior, Dr M Zubair Yousafani, Additional Commissioner, Customs, and Muhammad Khalid Jamali, first Secretary Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi.

Besides Gupta, the 13-member Indian delegation included HS Brahma, Joint Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs, K Jeevasagar, Director, Ministry of External Affairs, Sanjiv Goyal, Joint Commissioner (Immigration), Ministry of Home Affairs and TK Bandopadhaya, Under Secretary Land Customs Ministry of Finance.