New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on May 2 declared that the Indo-Pak dialogue this time would be "decisive" and "conclusive" but asserted unity and integrity of the country would not be compromised at any cost.

Striking an emotional note while responding to clarification in the Rajya Sabha on his statement, Vajpayee said this would be third and final effort at improving bilateral relations with Pakistan.

"Now whatever happens will be decisive and this will be my third and last effort" in that direction, Vajpayee said adding "I am confident I will succeed."

"Even for me, it is a decisive and conclusive step," Vajpayee said adding, "We want to give peace another chance."

Terming the response by Jamali as "encouraging", he said, "I felt there should be some way out. When there is darkness, nobody stops us from burning a lamp. There is darkness... but I see brightness and I have courage of conviction."

To the query of members what would be government's response to Pakistan's threat to raise Kashmir issue following Islamabad taking over the presidentship of UN Security Council, Vajpayee said Pakistan should be aware of the Security Council decision that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally on the basis of Simla Agreement.

Regarding the appointment of India's new High Commissioner to Islamabad, Vajpayee said there was a process involved which would be followed.

Asked by senior Congress member K Natwar Singh whether government would send Harsh Bhasin, an IAF officer who was tipped to take over the key slot, Vajpayee was non-committal saying the process had to be gone through.

PTI