New Delhi: As the two countries prepare for official level talks next week, India said there is "solid information" that Pakistan Government has taken steps to put down terrorism across the border and that infiltration has come down by a "considerable extent".

However, this assessment of the Defence Minister George Fernandes was tempered with a caution that there were "elements" outside the Pakistan Government planning strategies to continue their terrorist activities in India and to derail the movement towards normalcy.

In an hour-long interview to PTI, he spoke on the situation along the border following the November ceasefire and voiced optimism about further improvement of relations between the two countries.

"There is solid information that Pakistan Government has taken steps to put down terrorism. But there is also evidence that there are elements who have nothing to do with the State and who are always planning strategies to continue their terrorist activities to derail the present movement towards bringing normalcy," Fernandes said.

Asked as who they were, he said they were "autonomous agencies", which had been indulging in these kinds of activities but there was no evidence of their being funded by Pakistani authorities.

"Lets us not forget that these very elements tried to assassinate the hand that earlier helped them," he said without taking any names.

Fernandes was replying to a question whether Pakistan Government has put restraints on militant groups judged by decrease in infiltration and violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

"From the day of the ceasefire there have not been one bullet fired by either side and the border is as peaceful and silent as it should normally be. Infiltration has also declined to a considerable extent for which there are two reasons," he said.

The first reason, the Minister said, was strengthening of the border by India as well as fixing sensors to the extent the forces could reach. There were still some areas that were yet to be covered but major areas of infiltration have already been taken care of, he said.

The second reason, he said, was that the cover, which used to be available to the terrorist elements from the Pakistani forces on the border, was "hardly there". This, he felt, was due to improvement in Indo-Pak relations.

On the prospects of forward movement in the talks in Islamabad next week, he said, "I believe they would take their own time. The problem that has been bothering both countries for so many decades will need substantial time to resolve. But all signs point that there is confidence building developing among both the parties."

In support of this, he cited the interaction between businessmen of the two countries and various categories of people was growing rapidly. Cultural exchanges, comings and goings of people of various professions like lawyers and Member of Parliament and the move to restore cricketing ties were all adding upto creating confidence that was needed to carry forward what started with the ceasefire, he said.

On the chances of a positive outcome of the talks and future of the composite dialogue process, Fernandes said, "It will depend upon the course the dialogue process takes. Any statement today will be difficult to give."

On apprehensions of security for the Indian cricket tour of Pakistan next month, he said, "Well if there is any kind of reservation anywhere, it has nothing to do with Indo-Pak relations, but with terrorism, which can raise its head anywhere, anytime without anyone's knowledge and at the time of its choice."

To a question about India's concerns over reports of nuclear proliferation from Pakistan, the Minister said, "What is now appearing in the media is what we always knew and I am sure that Pakistani leadership will also understand the gravity of the situation and take appropriate steps to cope with it".