NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 9 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that India was ready to do more in taking forward the peace process with Pakistan if President Musharraf were to stick to his commitment on checking cross-border terrorism.

In a frank discussion with Rumsfeld on Indo-Pak dialogue, Singh said there was need for more confidence building measures. Coming a day after the Srinagar-Muzaffarbad bus talks failed to make much headway, the PM, sources said, made it clear that much more could be done if trust and confidence were to be maintained.

Exchanging views on Afghanistan, Rumsfeld appreciated the efforts being made by India. Here again, the PM pointed out that India could ‘‘do a lot more’’ if Pakistan were to extend transit facilities.

‘‘Transit facilities are a normal right extended by neighbours to each other in all civilised societies,’’ he was quoted as having told Rumsfeld.

The US Defence Secretary then sought details like the distance and time this would save India in moving goods and material. Details were promptly furnished with New Delhi also pointing out that a proper road network, used for trade earlier, still existed.

At Rumsfeld’s other meetings with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Advisor J N Dixit, the two sides discussed the US offer of F-16 fighters and P3-C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

While the Defence Ministry has confirmed that US arms are available, the Indian side is looking for more information, specifics on training issues, supply of spares and reliability.

None of the items have reached the price negotiations stage yet. The Patriot missile defence system, also on offer, is understood to be at a preliminary stage — the US has invited Indian Defence representatives to conferences on ballistic missile defence systems.

‘‘We had excellent discussions this morning. We discussed all kinds of things that are important to our two ministries,’’ said Rumsfeld, before inviting Mukherjee to visit Washington next year for more ‘‘leisurely discussions’’.

‘‘We have had numerous discussions, exercises and exchanges of various types in our military-to-military relationship. We intend to see this further knitted together as we go forward in the months and years ahead,’’ he said.

New Delhi used the opportunity to again register its concern over the proposed US arms sales to Pakistan. Both Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh raised the issue with Rumsfeld and told him that these sales may not have a healthy impact on the ‘‘positive sentiment’’ and ‘‘goodwill’’ for the US in India.

‘‘Concern was expressed from our side about the repercussions of the US arms supply on the India-Pakistan dialogue currently poised at a sensitive juncture,’’ the MEA spokesperson said.

India pointed out that Indo-US ties underwent a significant transformation during the first term of President Bush which resulted in US now being perceived as India’s ‘‘strategic partner’’. But US arms supplies to Pakistan, New Delhi felt, would run contrary to this belief.

Rumsfeld, on his part, made no commitment but assured New Delhi that US understood Indian ‘‘sensitivities’’ and would remain in touch on the matter. Washington had earlier conveyed that it would not keep India in the dark on sales to Islamabad while stating that a decision on the subject is ‘‘not imminent’’.