New Delhi: India is confident that a conducive atmosphere will be created for talks between New Delhi and Islamabad, but for a meaningful dialogue cross-border terrorism should end and the terrorism infrastructure in Pakistan should be dismantled, Prime Minister said on May 27.

"Some steps have already been taken and more will be taken. We are confident that an atmosphere will be created for the talks to begin," Vajpayee said before embarking on a three-nation tour to Germany, Russia and France.

Replying to questions on when would talks between the two nations begin, now that the resumption of Delhi-Lahore bus service has been announced, Vajpayee said, "We want it to be as soon as possible. But for a meaningful dialogue to begin, cross border terrorism should end and the terrorism infrastructure dismantled.”

Asked whether he was meeting US President George W Bush, he said, "I don't know about any such meeting at the moment."

PMO (Prime Minister's Office) sources said that Vajpayee would have scheduled bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Jacques Chirac, Chinese President Hu Jintao and German Chancellor Gerhard Schoreder during his week-long trip.

PTI