Karachi: Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali was unfazed on April 30 by the conflicting reactions from India to his olive branch offer to meet Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for peace talks.

"My invitation still stands, for the peace of South Asia, and this is what I told Vajpayee. Either he can come or I can go to India," Jamali told reporters in the Southern coastal city Karachi.

In a ground-breaking telephone call to Vajpayee on April 28 night, Jamali invited the Indian leader to Pakistan and offered to travel himself to India for talks on resolving a high-stakes stand-off that has had the nuclear-ready subcontinent on edge for the past 18 months.

Jamali said he was not expecting quick results in easing tensions that brought the hostile neighbours to the brink of their fourth war last year.

"We should wait. These things can take a long time."

The overtures by Jamali and Vajpayee come ahead of next week's visit to Pakistan and India by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Armitage is expected to try to push the South Asian foes to dialogue.

Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said Jamali was one step ahead in the peace moves.

"We have an edge over the Indians. Our offer of talks has been widely appreciated at (a) global level," he said.

"Jamali took a decision at the right time and we will be waiting when (India) are free from their pressure and problems. It will be good for all."

Agencies