New Delhi: India has termed as "insensitive" the US and British demand for resumption of a dialogue with Pakistan in the wake of the Nadimarg massacre of Kashmiri Pandits and asserted that it will not talk to Islamabad till it stops cross- border terrorism.

"It was clearly insensitive," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told ITV's "Court Martial" programme anchored by Karan Thapar.

He was replying to a question by panelists whether New Delhi felt that the call for resumption of talks with Pakistan was unhelpful and provocative at this juncture.

"We have tried to explain to them (the US and the UK) as clearly and as often as possible (India's position on terrorism)...but would agree that I don't think they understand it 100 per cent. They understand most of it. The difference in point of view is with regard to the dialogue. We have said clearly to them that cross-border terrorism and dialogue cannot go on simultaneously...first cross-border terrorism has to stop before a climate for dialogue is created," Sinha said.

Observing that India's decision not to talk to Pakistan was a "very effective policy", the minister said government would fight the menace of terrorism and do whatever was needed to ensure safety and security of its people.

Asked if there was a possibility of a war with Pakistan if US pressure on Islamabad did not work and there was a step up in infiltration, Sinha said, "The only thing I can tell you is that we will deal with the situation."

He did not elaborate.

Responding to queries on Indo-Pak issue, Sinha said India's decision not to talk to Pakistan was aimed at giving a message to those powers across the border which have been controlling the terrorist groups based in that country.

At the same time, he said as per the 1972 Simla Agreement, a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue could be found through a dialogue with Pakistan.

"I am not saying we will not do business with Pakistan as long as there is Army (in power) in Pakistan. But the role of the Army in Pakistan is a role that we have watched over a period of five decades."

"And as long as the Pakistan Army continues to play that role, it will be very difficult for any dispensation in Pakistan to come to an understanding with India and to that extent difficult for India to reach an understanding with Pakistan," he said.

Sinha further said this was so "because the Army in Pakistan is not merely a professional Army...it is a huge money-making machine and the whole lot of other things Pakistan Army is engaged in doing gives it the wherewithal to indulge n the kind of things they are indulging in".

On reports of Pakistan helping North Korea's nuclear programme, he said India has known all along that there has been a nexus between Pakistan's nuclear establishment and North Korea's missile programme.

"Weapons of mass destruction with rogue and irresponsible regimes is a threat to mankind. And we have also said that we find these attributes in our immediate neighbourhood," Sinha told Thapar.

PTI