Moscow: Expressing regret at "inadequate" Pakistani response to New Delhi's peace initiatives, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said that SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) summits have no "great importance" for bilateral Indo-Pak relations.

"SAARC is a multilateral process, launched by seven countries of South Asia and it should be distinguished from the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan," Sinha said in an interview to 'Vremya Novostyei' daily, published today (Nov 14).

"The SAARC meetings are very important, progress of this organisation is also important. But its meetings have no great importance for the relations between India and Pakistan," Sinha underscored.

He regretted that out of 12 peace initiatives proposed by New Delhi, Islamabad has responded to only a few.

Responding to a question whether Sino-Indian joint Naval exercise following the Indo-Russian Naval wargames in May last is a step towards "Russia-India-China" triangle mooted by ex-Russian Premier Primakov, Sinha said there was need for the "right understanding" of the concept of triangle.

PTI