Indian PM sees "new beginning" for India, Pakistan

INDIA: India and Pakistan have made a "new beginning" in bilateral ties by agreeing to work on a joint mechanism to tackle terrorism, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

But he cautioned that the initiative, announced after talks in Havana with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, still needed plenty of work before the two estranged South Asian neighbours can restore trust.

"We have agreed on a new mechanism to deal with terrorism. The explicit mention that both countries condemn this scourge and will work together, I do think it is a new beginning," the Indian prime minister told reporters on his flight home from Cuba.

Singh and Musharraf agreed Saturday on the sidelines of Non-Aligned Movement summit jointly to fight terrorism. They also said their top diplomats will resume high-level talks suspended in July after a series of bombings in Mumbai.

"I hope it works. But, if it does not work then also we have to deal with consequences," warned Singh, who has also accepted an invitation from Musharraf to visit Pakistan.

"The mechanism, which is yet to be worked out and put in place, must be credible, inspire confidence in both the countries and, therefore, we will have to look at the mechanics of the move with due care," he said.

New Delhi, Tuesday, AFP