New Delhi: Terming as "inadequate" the measures announced by Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism and improve trade relations, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said India would take "further steps" towards normalisation of bilateral ties, but this would depend on Islamabad's action to end infiltration.

"The measures suggested for trade are clearly inadequate and there is also no indication of specific steps that Pakistan would take to end cross border infiltration and terrorism," Sinha said in his first interview to Pakistan's official news agency APP in New Delhi released on May 27.

He said, "We are ready to take further steps. It would be natural to restore road and rail links as we proceed further on the normalisation path. This would naturally depend on the successful implementation of the measures announced so far, and the steps that Pakistan takes to end cross border infiltration.

"We have a clear road map and approach in our minds to normalise our relations in a step-by-step process, and to resume the dialogue process in a calibrated and a well prepared manner. We are ready to take these further steps," Sinha said, welcoming confidence building measures (CBMs) announced by Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to upgrade diplomatic ties and release of prisoners.

On the slow pace of the peace process, Sinha said past experience clearly suggested that one must proceed in a step-by-step, calibrated and well-prepared manner.

"Let me clarify that the step-by-step approach which we advocate is not to slow down the process, but to ensure that we are sure footed and make no mistakes while moving forward. There should be no cause for retraction later," he said.

Expressing India's wish to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir and to work together towards a better future and common prosperity, he said, "We would like to be positive and optimistic about the prospects for peace in the region."

Replying to a question whether India would attend the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co- operation) summit, proposed to be held during current calendar in Islamabad, he said like all other members, India looked forward to such events. However so far, no dates have been proposed for the next summit, he said.

"India is a committed member of SAARC. SAARC summits are an integral part of the SAARC process. In fact, summit meetings, at the levels of heads of state and government are at the pinnacle of the SAARC process, which is an ongoing process," he said.

On Pakistan's proposal to for the monitoring of the line of control (LoC) by international observers, Sinha said, "We have proposed to Pakistan to undertake joint patrolling of the line of control if they are serious of not supporting infiltration and terrorism. Similar co-operative measures do exist in sections of the international boundary between us."

He however clarified that the comments on joint mechanism were made in response to question from media and not as suo motto statement.

PTI