``India does not have to react to every speech and every statement that is made in Pakistan,'' Gujral told The Indian Express. ``Dont forget there are hawks on both sides,'' he adds.

Gujral's advice comes in the wake of discordant remarks by Pakistani officials in the run-up to the composite dialogue process beginning in Islamabad.

Asked whether the remarks of Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaz Aziz that the continuation of the dialogue in New Delhi in November would depend on the progress made on the Kashmir issue at Islamabad, Gujral cautions that India should not fall prey to such provocative signals. Instead, India should keep the dialogue process from faltering and insist onthe format of bilateral talks.

The Pokhran and Chagai nuclear tests have changed the character of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue. ``Both sides have manifested their nuclear deterrent capability. Diplomacy must now occupy the front seat,'' says Gujral.

The former PM sees a continuation of the Gujral Doctrine in the concessions announced by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York.

``When I started talking about mending relations with India's neighbours and the media called it the `Gujral Doctrine' it was not a mere formulation pulled out of thin air. It was a response to the realities on the ground,'' he said.

Greater responsibilities will devolve on India and Pakistan following their newly-unveiled nuclear status, he says. ``The world has taught us one lesson: Wherever two countries have a deterrent, an entire atmosphere of peace builds up. But the presence of a deterrent implies more responsibilities for both sides. Both in policy andin rhetoric, both sides have to be more responsible.''

Cautioning against any undue expectations from the talks, Gujral says it would be unrealistic to expect any dramatic results from the latest round of the dialogue. ``The Indo-Pak talks are a process, and not an event,'' he observes.

Though the realities on the ground preclude any major breakthrough, the former External Affairs Minister and diplomat is convinced ``patience'' is the key to dealing with Pakistan. ``We must not lose patience. Instead we should encourage other paradigms for cooperation, increasing trade and travel. Keep emphasising the SAARC route. Closer trade relations and the opening up of borders will help us in removing misgivings on contentious issues,'' he said.

``Don't forget there is a background of 50 years of animosities, punctuated by violence and wars. The journey naturally will be arduous,'' he says referring to the problems which have dogged several rounds of earlier negotiations.

But the process of talking is alreadyyielding less tangible results. ``In the last few years there is a change in the mindset of the people. Overwhelmingly at the people-to-people level there is a thinking that the destiny of the sub-continent is interlinked.''

``The entire region has to take-off together. We must emphasise the desirability of reducing tensions and point out that cross-border firing is doing immense harm to stability, ultimately holding back the economic development of the region,'' he said.

Stressing that both sides need to sit across the negotiating table with open minds, Gujral says the Pakistani leadership has to appreciate the fact that inflicting violence in Kashmir is inhuman and does not help the situation.

``Let us discuss Kashmir but even for a genuine discussion on Kashmir the first thing is to observe the CBMs that the two sides have drawn up. Unless there is confidence in each other, talk becomes difficult,'' he added.