While South Block is adamant that this meeting does not mean resumption of composite dialogue between the countries, sources said that the meeting between the two Foreign Secretaries will not only discuss terrorism but other issues of mutual concern as well.

Besides breaking the ice between the two sides, this step has raised hopes of heralding discussions on a slew of pending issues between the two sides in “due course” of time: talks on Sir Creek dispute, Siachen and liberalisation of visa regimes among them.

Briefing the media on the meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said: “The Prime Minister conveyed to the Pakistan President the full extent of our expectation of strong and effective steps to prevent use of Pakistani territory for terrorism against India.”

Menon made it clear that meetings between Singh and Zardari and the Foreign Secretaries did not mean resumption of dialogue. “Foreign Secretaries will discuss the primary issue of terrorism and what Pakistan has done... we would like to hear what they have done to end terrorism directed against India,” he said.

Menon said relations between India and Pakistan were under “considerable stress” and the prime cause for it was terror acts coming out of Pakistan.

During the meeting, Zardari explained “some of the efforts” made by Pakistan to deal with terrorism and the “problem” Pakistan faced in this regard. As a follow up to Tuesday’s deliberations, Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would discuss “what Pakistan is doing and what can be done”, Menon said, adding that the conclusions would be conveyed to the respective leaders so that they could take a view on it.

... contd.