NEW DELHI—India formally proposed talks with Pakistan for the first time since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that were planned on its neighbor's soil, raising hopes that frosty relations between the nuclear-armed rivals could begin to thaw.

The proposed discussions would cover "all relevant issues, including counter-terrorism" and India would enter them "with an open mind," according to a person familiar with the matter. It wasn't clear if the issue of Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan region over which the countries have fought two wars, would be on the table.

Abdul Basit, a spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, said Pakistan has sought clarification from the Indian government about the agenda and substance of the proposed talks. "We will give our response to the proposal after we have received the reply from Delhi. We want to have meaningful and result-oriented engagement with India," Mr Basit said.

The talks would be initiated at the level of foreign secretaries, top bureaucrats within the foreign affairs ministries. Dates for the proposed discussions weren't available.

India cut off talks with Pakistan after the November 2008 attacks in the financial capital of Mumbai, in which a rampage by gunmen left 166 people dead. Pakistan has acknowledged the attacks were planned by militants on its soil, and has brought several alleged conspirators to trial. But India says key people involved in the attacks are still at large, and has accused Pakistan of dragging its feet.

The proposal comes amid growing optimism on both sides that discussions could resume. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram is slated to travel to Pakistan on Feb. 26 for a meeting of countries in the region, the first high-level diplomatic visit by a top Indian official in nearly two years.

G. Parthasarathy, a former Indian envoy to Pakistan who is now a visiting professor at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, said India will make progress on terrorism only if it can bring to the table Pakistani military officials who have contact with and influence over militant groups. "It is ridiculous to talk to the political leadership in Pakistan on an issue over which they have no control," Mr. Parthasarathy said.

U.S. officials have said they would welcome renewed dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbors. On a recent trip to India, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said al Qaeda and regional terrorist groups are determined to incite another war between India and Pakistan.

In 2004, India and Pakistan resumed dialogue over Kashmir as well as a broad-range of other issues, including economic cooperation and water disputes. Relations warmed as violence in Kashmir—which both countries claim as their own but is two-thirds controlled by India—began to ebb.

Confidence-building measures like cross-border bus service reinforced the government discussions, even as relations suffered periodic setbacks. In 2007, talks began to fizzle amid political upheaval in Pakistan that eventually forced then-President Pervez Musharraf from power in 2008.

The Mumbai attacks the following year fully suspended India-Pakistan discussions, even on previously noncontroversial areas. Last month, Pakistani politicians fumed when none of the country's players were selected in a draft held by India's cricket league. Pakistan has asked India to look into the incident.

Since Mumbai, there have been some meetings of high-ranking officials. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani last summer on the sidelines of a summit in Egypt.

Zahid Hussain contributed to this article.