New Delhi: Contesting the US claim that its active involvement brought about the recent breakthrough in Indo-Pak ties, India today (Jan 13, 2004) made it clear that there was no scope for third-party role in the past and also in the future.

"India discusses major foreign policy issues with friendly countries as part of normal diplomatic interaction. The US has repeatedly offered to promote India-Pakistan dialogue. However, on India-Pakistan bilateral issues, there has been no scope for any third party role in the past and it is not likely to be there in future either," External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters.

He was asked about US Secretary of State Colin Powell's remarks that the US was actively involved in promoting Indo-Pak ties.

"The work we have been doing with the Indians and the Pakistanis", produced a breakthrough over the last several days, "but there is more work to be done", Powell had said in an interview to the 'US News and World Report'.

Powell said, "We have offered our good offices to the Indians and the Pakistanis over the last couple of days.

"We have been working with the Indians and the Pakistanis for almost two years, from a period of 'we're going to nuclear war this weekend...' to, you know, this is a historic change. And so I think a lot of these seeds that were planted are now germinating and you'll (see) us harvesting crops," Powell said.

During the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit in Islamabad, India and Pakistan decided to hold composite dialogue on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.