NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s ambassador to India said on Thrusday his country would like to have a comprehensive dialogue with New Delhi to resolve their outstanding issues and is willing to wait if India isn’t ready.

High-level talks between the neighbors have been suspended since January, when India postponed scheduled meetings on Kashmir and other issues after an attack on an Indian air force base that killed seven soldiers.

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said that Pakistan can wait if India isn’t yet ready.

The Jan. 2 attack on the base in the northern Indian town of Pathankot came days after a surprise visit to Pakistan by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that raised hopes of a thaw in bilateral relations.

India says phone intercepts suggest the gunmen came from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters clashed with police in Indian-controlled Kashmir Thursday after two militants were killed in a gun battle with government forces, the army and witnesses said. Protesters torched a police armored vehicle as masked militants fired automatic rifles into the air in honor of the dead men, a police officer at the scene told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The gun battle broke out early Thursday morning in Shopian, 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar.

“The militants fired on a patrol party. In retaliation both were eliminated,” army spokesman, Col. N.N. Joshi told AFP.

The two militants were members of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest local rebel group operating in Kashmir.

After the shootout, thousands of angry villagers came out onto the streets, throwing stones at police and chanting slogans in support of the rebels.

Police fired tear gas at the protesters but later withdrew to avoid an escalation.