New Delhi: India has firmly told the United States that Pakistan has to convince the world that it has stopped cross-border terrorism for an Indo-Pak dialogue to begin, highly placed sources said, a day after US Secretary of State Richard Armitage concluded his talks with the Indian leadership.

Refusing to accept Washington's argument that it did not have any clout with Islamabad, Indian leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, is understood to have told Armitage that "there is no way Pakistan would not accept US diktats as it had done in the case of fighting Taleban in Afghanistan." The clout was also evident in the handing over of 500 al-Qaida men to US, they said.

"Pakistan cannot disregard what you say, as they are so dependent on you," Advani is believed to have told Armitage who met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other Indian leaders on May 10 after coming to New Delhi from Islamabad, where he talked with the Pakistani leadership.

It was pointed out to Armitage that Pakistan has not taken any action on India's list of 20 terrorists and criminals so far, the sources said.

While Islamabad says some of the these 20 wanted men are Pakistani nationals, the rest of them should be handed over to India immediately, they said adding that these 20 people were fugitives who have committed crimes in India and worldwide alert notices have been issued by Interpol against them.

Taking exception to recent statements by some US officials that the Kashmir issue should be resolved first to end cross border terrorism, the Indian leaders pointed out to Armitage that US President George W Bush had categorically stated after 9/11 that terrorism was an evil and there was no question of any political issue justifying it.

Stating that India has wrested from the US the initiative to create world opinion against terrorism, Advani told the US official that New Delhi wanted Islamabad to make tangible moves first to establish peace and create conducive atmosphere for the talks to begin.

This is the third time peace effort was being initiated by India and the message had gone across to the international community that New Delhi was in no hurry this time. "It is a reaffirmation of our efforts and intentions towards peace and friendship," the sources said.

During his talks with Armitage, Advani also referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali's statement that besides forging other links, the two nations should also start playing hockey.

The Deputy Prime Minister is understood to have asked Armitage what happens if a massacre takes place when a hockey match is going on between the two nations, the sources said.

Hence the question of ending cross-border terrorism and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure is essential for paving the way for creating a conducive atmosphere for talks to begin, the Indian leaders told the US official.

Indian side is also believed to have pointed out that the US in its war against terrorism has dealt with Pakistan and some Gulf countries, most of which were autocratic in nature.

But the Indian government leading a vibrant Democracy has to be sensitive and responsive towards public opinion. Public opinion cannot be ignored by the government while dealing with Pakistan, Advani is believed to have told Armitage, the sources said.

PTI