Making it clear that terrorism would be the only agenda of his meeting with Salman Bashir, Menon said, “It is a fact that terrorism coming out of Pakistan is really the issue. We have had assurances from Pakistan that we will be discussing so that terrorism does not affect us”.

On the issue of the Pakistani government challenging release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, prime accused in the Mumbai attacks, in the Supreme Court, he said he would comment only after there was greater clarity on the issue. “I have heard all kinds of stories — petition has been filed, petition has been rejected. I do not want to comment on something that is so unclear,” he said.

Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh leaves for Italy tomorrow to attend the summit of G-8 leaders with five Outreach countries, where the subject of the global economic downturn is likely to be on top of the agenda. During the four-day visit to Coppito, Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with US President Barack Obama and other world leaders. This will be the third meeting of the leaders of the eight developed countries and five major developing nations since the outbreak of global financial crisis last year.