During the meeting, Singh is also believed to have conveyed India’s disappointment over the release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed. On Pakistan’s contention that it was also a victim of terrorism, Menon said: “There is terrorism in Pakistan but that is not an issue here. What has paused the dialogue is terrorism coming out of Pakistan against India like the Mumbai attacks.”

On Pakistan’s insistence on resumption of dialogue, Menon said: “We too would like the dialogue, but the issue (terrorism directed against India) has to be addressed.”

Menon referred to the Prime Minister’s statement that it was in India’s interest to try to make peace with Pakistan “but it takes two hands to clap.” Menon said India had never said it would not talk to Pakistan but the issue of terrorism had to be addressed.

Menon sought to downplay Singh’s message to Zardari in front of media by saying much should not be read into it as the Prime Minister “wanted to say something and said it.”

Menon and his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Bashir, had last met in July last year for the Composite Dialogue process in Delhi. This time, Pakistan’s diplomatic sources point out, it is Islamabad’s turn to host the meeting. Sources, however, don’t rule out a meeting in New Delhi as well.

New Delhi is now expecting a firm action by Islamabad before the FS-level talks ¿ there are indications that Punjab government in Pakistan will file a petition to review the Lahore High Court judgement to free Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed before the June-end/early July meeting.

... contd.