Islamabad: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's reply to his Pakistani counterpart Mir Zafarullah Kahn Jamali's formal invitation to visit Pakistan has been delivered and a response from Pakistan is expected shortly.

The acting Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, T C A Raghavan said on May 4 that he had delivered Vajpayee's reply to Jamali's invitation to the foreign office late on May 3.

In a cautious and calibrated reply to Jamali's invitation Vajpayee, had within hours of receiving the invitation written back that "careful preparation on the ground" was necessary for "vengeful engagement at the highest level."

Vajpayee insisted on the need for an immediate need for putting an end to cross border terrorism and dismantling of its infrastructure.

Officials said Pakistan’s reaction to the reply was expected shortly.

PTI