Natwar Singh highlighted the usefulness of the rich reservoir of goodwill in India and Pakistan, which should pave the way for a people-centric approach. In this regard, he said India and Pakistan could further build on their existing natural affinities, cultural ties, and family relationships.
He also mentioned India's unilaterally liberalised visa regime for Pakistani citizens, and said that students from Pakistan could take advantage of educational opportunities offered by the Indian universities, particularly in the field of information technology (IT).
"We have proposed several measures as we believe that CBMs could create a conducive atmosphere for a constructive and co-operative relationship and resolving other issues", he said.
Earlier, Safma Secretary-General Imtiaz Alam said that any proposed CBMs should not be linked with other issues, and Kashmir, which, he said, had held the entire South Asia a hostage should serve as a bridge of peace between the two countries.
Referring to agreement on Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service to be inaugurated on April 7 this year, he said there should be hundreds of buses plying and dozens of passenger planes flying between India and Pakistan.
The foreign secretaries of two countries, India and Pakistan high commissioners in Islamabad and Delhi and Safma representatives from both countries attended the reception.