New Delhi: Indicating that Pakistan's insistence on the centrality of the Kashmir issue had not produced results for last 57 years, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh has called for a "new beginning" in bilateral ties.

"Well, I would only say that we will appeal and request them (Pakistan) that this road we have travelled over 57 years hasn't produced the results that you want, the results that we want. Let's make a new beginning," he told Karan Thapar on BBC World.

He was replying to a question about Pakistan's stand that Kashmir should be discussed first and that improvement in bilateral relations depended on progress on this issue.

Observing that Kashmir was one of issues between India and Pakistan, Singh said, "To me personally, the most important thing on our agenda should be nuclear dimension because when we (Congress) remitted office in 1996 we were not a nuclear power."

Asked if a mutually acceptable solution to resolve the Kashmir dispute was possible, he said, "I think it should be given the goodwill on both sides.

"I think there should be attempt by both countries, both foreign offices, leaders of both the countries to try and address this thing and say that we have gone on with this for 57 years, at least let's clear the climate. I think public opinion of both countries is far ahead of the Governments, that's my own feeling."