Dhaka: Notwithstanding the Mumbai blasts, which led to postponement of Foreign Secretary-level talks, India and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed that nothing should impede the peace process as Islamabad put the ball in New Delhi's court for its resumption.
Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters that India's endeavour was to make sure through "whatever appropriate actions which are required that the peace process does not in any way get affected".
In this context, the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries have decided to remain in touch, he said.
Saran said there was common understanding between India and Pakistan that the peace process is very important and the two countries should try and take it forward.
"This is what people of Pakistan and people India want," he said on the sidelines of the SAARC Foreign Ministers' meeting.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said the peace process was in the interest of both the countries and neither India nor Pakistan does a favour by talking to each other. "It is in the interest of both the countries."
"As far as the Composite Dialogue is concerned, we have a positive attitude," Kasuri said, but added the ball was in India's court to resume the dialogue process.
"We did not postpone the Foreign Secretary-level talks. It was postponed by India under certain circumstances. Now, the ball is in India's court," he said.
India had indefinitely postponed the Foreign Secretary-level talks proposed to be held on July 20, suspecting Pakistani hand in the July 11 Mumbai blasts.
Disagreeing that there was a stalemate in the peace talks with Pakistan, Saran said India's endeavour was to ensure that the process was not affected in any manner.
On Pakistan's demand that India provide evidence about linkages of terrorists with Pakistan, he said New Delhi has provided considerable amount of evidence in the past, most recently at the Home Secretary-level talks.
"There are certain actions which could be taken very easily (by Pakistan) to convince people of India that when Pakistan says it is very serious about curbing terrorism it is going to take some action to do that," he said.
Commenting on suspicion by Indian security agencies that Pakistan-based terrorist groups were behind the blasts, Kasuri said there should be no 'knee-jerk reaction' and suggested New Delhi focus on investigating the matter rather than 'finger-pointing'.
Pakistan has asked for evidence, but so much time has passed without it being given, he said, adding even in earlier incidents no concrete evidence was given by India about link of terrorists with Pakistan.
"We also want to know who are behind the Mumbai blasts. We have offered to join you in investigations if there are any leads," the Pakistan Foreign Minister said.
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