New Delhi, Jan 1: Raising hopes of normalisation of
relations, a green and white Boeing 737 of the Pakistan
International Airlines touched down at the Indira Gandhi
International airport here today marking resumption of
airlinks between the two countries which had remained
suspended for two years after the attack on Parliament.
The PIA plane landed here at 1600 hours with just 40
passengers on board. Indian airlines will resume its flights to Pakistan under
a recent agreement between the two countries from January
nine.
The flight made true dreams of many from Pakistan eager
to meet their relatives and further business relations in
India.
"This 45-minute flight cuts down travelling time to India
from Pakistan drastically. Earlier, I had to spend nearly 20
hours at the Dubai airport before coming here," said Lahore-
based Aamir Abbas, who owns a air-conditioning firm there.
Elated over the saving of time and money, Abbas who looks
forward to business deals here, said that interaction between
the countries should increase and "the ice will definitely
melt."
If Baby Noor became the face of the thaw in Indo-Pak
relations after the resumption of Lahore-Delhi bus service, it
was the turn of 10-month old Sidra who was eager to meet her
father in Bhopal.
"My daughter Ayesha was married in a family in Bhopal and
her husband later settled in the United States," the infant's
grandfather Yusuf Iftekar said.
Bureau Report
