New Delhi: After the two countries agreed to restore air links, India today (Dec 2, 2003) proposed to Pakistan technical-level talks on December 18 and December 19 for resumption of "Samjhauta Express" train and said dialogue with Islamabad would depend on the progress made in such parleys.

In his first press conference after taking over as Foreign Secretary, Shashank fielded a spate of queries on Indo-Pak relations and the possibility of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee meeting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and other leaders on the sidelines of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Summit in Islamabad next month.

Specifically asked about Musharraf's willingness to meet Vajpayee if the Indian leader was ready, he said, "From our side, the Prime Minister will be travelling for the Summit and there will be leaders from their (Pakistani) side attending it. So some meetings will take place. But their nature and how they will take place will have to be seen later as this will all depend on the progress at the technical-level talks and how Pakistan meets its commitments to its unfulfilled agenda on SAARC-related issues," the 59- year-old Foreign Secretary said.

"Today we have proposed to Pakistan December 18 and 19 for technical-level talks in New Delhi for resumption of Samjhauta Express," he said.

The train service between Delhi and Lahore via Attari was suspended after the terrorist attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001. The two countries yesterday (Dec 1) decided to resume civil aviation links from January 1.

PTI