Tentative peace talks between India and Pakistan have stalled after the Mumbai attacks, India said on Tuesday, and can only resume if Islamabad takes more decisive action against militant groups on its soil.

The composite dialogue began in 2004 after the nuclear-armed neighbours almost came to the brink of war two years earlier over the parliament attack orchestrated by Pakistan-based militant groups.

Those talks were thrown into jeopardy last month by the Mumbai attacks, which killed at least 179 people and which India has blamed on Lashkar-e-Toiba.

"There is a pause in the composite dialogue process because of the attack on Mumbai," Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in the disputed region of Kashmir.

The peace process has brought better diplomatic, trade and sporting ties but little progress has been made on major disputes such as the divided Jammu and Kashmir region.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman in Islamabad said Pakistan was committed to the peace process while resigned to a pause in it.

"It's in the larger interests of the whole region," said the spokesman, Mohammad Sadiq. "If Mr Mukherjee says there's a pause, then there's a pause."

India, the United States and Britain have blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba and other affiliated groups for the Mumbai attacks, saying Pakistan must do more to stamp out militants.

Lashkar has been linked by US officials and analysts to Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence military spy agency, who they say use it as a tool to destabilise India.

Pakistan in turn has promised to cooperate in investigations and has denied any official links to the Mumbai attacks, but has also said anyone caught in Pakistan will be tried in Pakistan.

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