Timeline: Steps to peace in South Asia

April 2003

Former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee offers the "hand of friendship" to Pakistan in a landmark address in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Vajpayee broke the deadlock - but later lost elections

He was speaking after months of tension which had seen the two nuclear powers come close to war following an attack on India's parliament in December 2001.

In what correspondents described as a huge gamble, Mr Vajpayee said dialogue was the only way to bring peace in Kashmir - the territory at the heart of a decades-long dispute.

May 2003

India announces the resumption of a bus service between Delhi and Lahore. Pakistan calls the plan a "positive gesture".

Both sides name high commissioners as diplomatic links are resumed. Delhi says it will release Pakistani prisoners after a similar move by Islamabad.

August 2003

For the first time in history, Indians and Pakistanis hold joint independence day celebrations in a further sign of the thaw in relations.

October 2003

India unveils a series of measures aimed at improving relations with Pakistan and forging progress in the Kashmir dispute.

Landmark talks were held in February 2004

A ceasefire comes into effect along the informal border dividing Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

The two countries earlier order troops to halt firing along the de facto border, or Line of Control (LoC).

December 2003

India and Pakistan agree to resume direct air links from 1 January after a two-year ban.

January 2004

India and Pakistan hail progress made at historic talks at a regional summit in Islamabad.

President Musharraf spends an hour with Mr Vajpayee - their first meeting in nearly three years.

Later in the month, the Indian government and moderates in the main Kashmiri separatist alliance hold a historic first meeting and agree that violence must end in the troubled region.

February 2004

India and Pakistan begin their first formal talks in nearly three years, with Kashmir high on the agenda.

Three days of landmark discussions in the Pakistani capital are designed to pave the way for full peace talks.

March 2004

The cricket series was a huge success

May 2004

Pakistan welcomes a pledge made by incoming Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek friendly relations after Mr Vajpayee's party loses the general election.

"No problem is intractable if there is a will to work towards just and durable solutions," Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan says.

June 2004

India and Pakistan renew a ban on nuclear weapons tests and set up a hotline to alert each other to potential nuclear risks.

September 2004

The two countries' foreign ministers meet in Delhi - the first official meeting at such a high level for three years. Both sides say they have made some progress but there are few results to show for it. Agreement on Kashmir seems as far away as ever.

President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meet for talks in New York on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly.

For the first time in the history of the Kashmir dispute, the two leaders discuss various "options" to solve the dispute.

The two leaders hit it off well in New York

Both leaders welcome the talks.

October 2004

President Musharraf unveils some radical proposals to bring an end to the dispute over Kashmir.

One of his suggestions is that the territory, which is claimed by both countries, be demilitarised and jointly governed by the two nuclear-capable nations.

President Musharraf also suggests that Pakistan could withdraw its demand that a plebiscite be held in the disputed region.

India is cool to the proposals and asks Pakistan to discuss Kashmir through official channels.

November 2004

India begins to withdraw some of its troops from Indian-administered Kashmir as premier Manmohan Singh starts his first visit there since taking office.

A first unit of about 1,000 soldiers withdraws from the southern town of Anantnag.

It remains unclear how many soldiers India plans to pull out.

February 2005

Delhi and Islamabad agree to launch a landmark bus service across the ceasefire line dividing Kashmir.

The link will reunite families divided since buses last ran on the route before India and Pakistan fought their first war over Kashmir in 1947.

The agreement gives a boost to year-old peace moves, which critics said had produced little substantial progress.

April 2005

First passengers from either side of the Line of Control cross divided Kashmir as bus service gets underway.

There were tearful reunions as separated family members met for the first time in years.

Militants vowed to target the service and one bus survived a grenade attack.

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