Pak says will accept resumption of composite dialogue

8220;We want result-oriented and sustained dialogue and no format of engagement other than composite dialogue will be acceptable to us,8221; he said.

Basit was responding to statements made by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and other indications that India may take some steps to normalise bilateral ties,which have been under considerable strain since the Mumbai attacks.

However,the spokesman said the Pakistan Foreign Office will assess any Indian proposal and see if it can help revive the composite dialogue,whose four rounds since 2004 had led to practical steps by both countries to enhance cooperation on several issues and address outstanding matters.

Reports that India wanted 8220;measured contacts8221; instead of the full-fledged resumption of the composite dialogue were not well received by the Foreign Office,sources said.

India has linked the resumption of the peace process to Pakistan taking action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.

Krishna said yesterday that Home Minister P Chidambaram will attend a conference of SAARC Interior Ministers in Pakistan during February 26-27.

Chidambaram will have a chance to have 8220;very useful exchanges8221; with his counterparts and other leaders in Pakistan during the visit,Krishna said.

The Dawn reported that the Pakistan Foreign Office appeared 8220;to be unclear about what sort of engagement India desired.8221;

Chidambaram8217;s upcoming visit to Islamabad to attend the SAARC meeting is expected to be the 8220;first step towards normalisation of ties,8221; it said.

The delegation expected to be led by Chidambaram will be the highest official Indian team to visit Pakistan since the Mumbai attacks.

Since then,leaders of the two sides have only met on the sidelines of several multilateral fora like the UN General Assembly.