Pakistan's national airline said on Wednesday resumption of flights to India would take at least 10 days once the estranged South Asian neighbours formally announce a restoration of air links.

On Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali backed the full restoration of travel ties as well as sporting relations as a prelude to talks between the two countries.

India's Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee last week authorised the resumption of air links cut last year after New Delhi accused Pakistan-based militants of a bloody attack on its Parliament that brought the neighbours close to a fourth war.

"We will be able to resume flight operations within 10 days or so once the two governments formally announce this decision," Khursheed Anwar, acting managing director of Pakistan International Airlines, told Reuters.

"We have the operational capability and have already made the flight schedule."

Islamabad and New Delhi have also blocked overflights by each others' airlines, and this issue has not been addressed.

"I am not an expert on airlines...obviously the two airline officials and both sides have to get together to work out the modalities," Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mian Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri told NDTV channel when asked about overflights.

Anwar said resumption of flights would be good news for passengers in Pakistan.

"They face a lot of inconvenience and have to pay higher fares because they are forced to use alternate routes while traveling to or from Far Eastern countries."

PIA officials say a total of 22 PIA flights a week are suspended because of the ban. Twelve of these were to India, while the remaining 10 were to Far East destinations including Singapore, Manila, Colombo and Dhaka.

Anwar said the resumption of flights would also depend on the restoration of normal visa services.

Indian and Pakistani diplomatic missions drastically cut back issuing travel visas to each others' nationals because of tensions and reduced staff numbers at diplomatic missions.

"The flights needs to carry passengers," Anwar said. "Until visa services are fully restored, starting normal flights won't be feasible."

Pakistan and India have agreed to restore ambassador-level ties and on Tuesday, Prime Minister Jamali called for respective embassies to be brought back up to full strength.