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NEW DELHI, Sunday (AFP)

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said any meaningful dialogue with arch-rival Pakistan can begin only when it shows "sincerity" in ending what India calls cross-border terrorism.

"We continue to deal firmly with cross-border terrorism and a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan is only possible when we see sincerity in their efforts to stop cross-border infiltration and to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism," Vajpayee told a meeting of top military commanders in New Delhi.

India recently unveiled 12 proposals to ease tensions with Pakistan, ranging from starting new bus and train routes to holding talks on restoring air links severed after a militant attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001.

Pakistan, which termed the initiatives "recycled and rehashed", accepted some while adding conditions to others. Vajpayee is due to travel to Islamabad for a regional summit in January but has ruled out direct talks with President Pervez Musharraf unless Pakistan stops what New Delhi alleges is the arming and funding of militants who cross into Indian Kashmir to carry out attacks there.

Referring to the recent peace initiatives, Vajpayee said New Delhi's "constant effort is to encourage those elements within Pakistan who recognise the folly of permanent hostility towards India".

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