New Delhi:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday (Jan 15,2007) said 'progress' was being made by India and Pakistan on the contentious Siachen issue but termed as 'premature' that a stage for agreement 'is being reached'.

"We have to take a holistic view of relations with Pakistan. We have had several rounds of composite dialogue in which Siachen, Sir Creek and other issues figured. We are making progress," he told reporters while returning from the Philippines after attending back-to-back summits.

"But it will be premature for me to say that we have reached a stage where agreement is being signed," he said.

"The two sides are among other things holding negotiations on the issue of authentication of ground position (in Siachen). There are hopeful features in the present dialogue," Singh said adding, it is my effort to sustain the momentum," he said.

 Asked whether the atmosphere was conducive for him to undertake a visit to Pakistan before the SAARC summit in India in April, Singh said "when I go back (to Delhi), I will talk to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who has just had a very useful and successful visit to Pakistan.

He said the future course of action will be determined after he has had a briefing from Mukherjee.