India ends Pakistani flight ban

India today pulled back from the brink of war with Pakistan, saying it will restore the right of its rival's aircraft to fly over India.

Indian foreign ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said it was "not a small step. I think it is significant".

But she stopped short of announcing India would restore its ambassador to Pakistan and withdraw five warships from the Arabian Sea near Pakistan, as had been reported earlier on TV. India had enforced the overflying ban after Islamic militants attacked the parliament in New Delhi in December.

The move lessens fears of war between the two nuclear powers over Kashmir, where one million troops face each other. Ms Rao said there had been an "improvement" in the situation on the ground.