“Several rounds of talks have taken place between our two countries and our proposal for opening the Line of Control trade from October one has been forwarded to Pakistan,” he said.

“We are awaiting their response. Other necessary steps will be followed up as soon as we receive their response,” Mukherjee told All India Radio.

The Government has been maintaining that the ball was in Pakistan’s court to start the trade along the LoC.

Asked whether opening of trade route would have any impact on the valley, he said “we are going to have these talks going on for sometime,” referring to various confidence building measures including transport services operating between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad.

“We are also thinking of the new routes. So these talks are going on for quite sometime. It has nothing to do with the contemporary event (the agitation in the valley for opening of the route for trade),” he said.

Asked whether there was hope for resuming talks with Pakistan after the new government settles down and Presidential polls are held, Mukherjee said India was committed to having peace, stability and development in its entire neighbourhood.