India and Pakistan on Thursday agreed not to link the composite dialogue to action on terrorism as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh elicited a promise from his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani that Islambad would "do everything in its power" to punish perpetrators of 26/11 attack. In a joint statement issued after about two-hour-long talks between Singh and Gilani here,the two sides agreed to "create an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence" and resolved to eliminate the factors that prevent the two neighbours from realising the full potential in their ties. During the talks that focussed on terrorism against the backdrop of Mumbai attack,the two sides also decided to share "real-time,credible and actionable information on any future terror threats". "Both Prime Ministers recognised that dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and these should not be bracketed," the statement said.
