NEW DELHI (IRNA) -- India on Sunday night welcomed the announcement by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that his country will lift the ban on Indian flights over its airspace.

"We welcome the announcement by President Musharraf that Pakistan will agree to overflights," India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said ahead of the talks on Monday between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries.

"We are looking forward to a successful outcome of the talks Monday and the day after," he said.

India's Minister for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the Pakistani move to resume over flight facilities with India was a desirable step. But he said a decision on the matter would only be taken after talks between Civil Aviation officials of the two nations, beginning here on Monday, are completed.

Rudy said India has not received an official communication from Islamabad in this connection, adding that he heard about Gen Musharraf's offer only on television.