Pakistan on Thursday formally proposed to India to resume the Samjhauta Express service as a step to further normalise ties between the two countries.

"The railway authorities of the two countries should meet at the earliest to finalise the arrangements for quick resumption of the train service between Lahore and New Delhi," a Pakistan foreign office spokesperson said.

The proposal was conveyed through the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi to the Indian external affairs ministry, the spokesman said.

The train service was shut down after the attack on Parliament in December 2001.