It was agreed that the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries will discuss what Pakistan is doing and can do to prevent terrorism from Pakistan against India and to bring to justice those responsible for these attacks, including the attacks in Mumbai, he said.

Krishna, who was making the statement on 'Significant developments in our neighbourhood', said in India's vision of a "cooperative and harmonious sub-continent", the relationship between India and Pakistan can be a crucial building block. He referred to Singh's recent statement in Parliament in which he spelt out intention of meeting Pakistan more than half the way if its leaders have the 'courage, determination and statesmanship to take the high road to peace'.

"These sentiments encapsulate our approach," the minister said. Krishna said even in 2004, the Composite Dialogue process was started with Pakistan on the "explicit premise" that there will be an atmosphere free of terror.

The External Affairs Minister pointed out that Pakistan government had given assurances at the highest level that it would not let territories under its control to be used for attacks against India.

"Notwithstanding these assurances, we have been repeatedly and severely hit by a series of terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan....Unfortunately, terrorists in Pakistan continue attacks against India," he added. "Despite achievements, the dialogue and our very relationship with Pakistan have come under stress recurrently because of the license which terrorist groups have had in Pakistan to carry out attacks on India," Krishna said.