Ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani, India said that it recognises the "salience" of dialogue but it is premised on an atmosphere free of the threat of violence.

In a statement in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Pakistan must "expose" and "take action" against "conspiracies and conspirators" for terror attacks launched in India from across the border.

Krishna said despite assurances from the highest levels in Islamabad, India has been "repeatedly and severely" hit by a series of terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan. "It is the responsibility of the government of Pakistan to take all such steps as are necessary to address this issue and expose and take action against the conspiracies and conspirators responsible for such attacks.

Unfortunately, terrorists in Pakistan continue attacks against India," he said. India recognises the "importance and salience of a continued dialogue with Pakistan.

However, dialogue addressing mutual concerns is premised on an atmosphere free of threat of violence," Krishna said. The comments assume significance as they came just ahead of Singh's meeting with Gilani in Egypt on the sidelines of the NAM Summit to take stock of what Pakistan has done to punish perpetrators of Mumbai attacks and end terrorism directed against India. Mentioning last month's meeting between Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in Yekaterinburg in Russia, Krishna noted that the latter talked about his government's efforts to end terror directed against India and the difficulties it faces.

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