The two-day technical level talks between India and Pakistan for lifting a 20-month suspension of flights ended inconclusively on Thursday.

A joint statement issued at Rawalpindi said the discussions helped the two sides understand "each other's respective positions" and paved the way for a next round of talks to be announced after "mutual consultation".

"A range of issues were discussed in detail" under a "cordial and business-like atmosphere", the statement said.

Director General of Civil Aviation Authority Satinder Singh led the five-member delegation. Additional Secretary at the defence ministry, Major General Mohammed Ashraf Chaudhry, headed the Pakistanis.

"Pakistan favours full respect for principles and norms relating to international civil aviation and will seek an abiding commitment to ensure that these are respected," a statement from the Pakistani delegation had said on Wednesday.

India, in January 2002, had banned overflights and direct flights after the attack on its Parliament.