Vajpayee
was responding to a letter written by Pakistan Prime Minister
Zafarullah Jamali inviting him to talks in Afghanistan, a foreign
ministry spokesman was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying.
"The
Prime Minister emphasised the need for careful preparation on the
ground so there could be meaningful engagement at the highest
level," Navtej Sarna said.
Government
sources in Delhi said the reply "could neither be seen as a
rejection nor an acceptance" of Jamali's invitation.
Relations
between the two countries began to thaw with the Friday announcement,
17 months after severing ties. Pakistan welcomed the move.
Pakistan
and India reduced their diplomatic relations and cut off rail and air
links in escalatory moves following December 2001 attack on the Indian
Parliament.
India
blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed Kashmiri fighters while Pakistan
repudiated the allegations.
The
diplomatic offensive then turned into military tensions and the two
countries were dragged out of a full scale war by the U.S.
intervention in last June.
The
nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since independence in
1947, two of them over Muslim-majority Kashmir.
“Phased
Process”
Reactions
from Pakistan to Vajpayee’s statements were upbeat, with Information
Minister Sheikh Rashid saying bilateral talks between the arch-rivals
"should be soon, as things are moving quite fast."
But
wary Indian government sources cautioned earlier Saturday against
hopes that peace talks would flow swiftly following Vajpayee's bold
new initiative.
"It
may not happen quite that fast," one source said, declining to
elaborate.
The
Indian media, quoting official sources, has reported that any
resumption of dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours would be a
phased process - with officials meeting first to chalk out the agenda
for talks.
Analysts
suggest the appointment of high commissioners, or ambassadors, could
be a first step, though no announcement naming envoys was made
Saturday.
The
ebbing tensions in South Asia resulted from an offer by Vajpayee to
Pakistan of a "hand of friendship" during a visit to Kashmir
last month.
Pakistani
President Pervez Musharraf reiterated Pakistan's readiness for talks
with India, saying "we stand ready to enter into a dialogue
anytime, anywhere."
"We
seek peaceful resolution of all disputes and differences especially
the core dispute over Jammu and Kashmir...we on our part will
demonstrate all our seriousness,’ Musharraf was quoted as saying.
The
prospect of the first talks in almost two years between the nuclear
rivals is warmer than ever following Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee (news - web sites)'s offer last month to accept Pakistan's
repeated calls for dialogue.
The
United States welcomed the new relaxation in tensions that brought the
two sides to the brink of war last year.
U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with his Indian counterpart
Yashwant Sinha to express the U.S. support for the moves toward peace.
"Mr.
Powell welcomes the prime minister's initiative," a ministry
spokesman said.
Other
international allies expressing telephoned support for the thawing
relations included British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Russian
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and French Foreign Minister Dominique de
Villepin, the spokesman said.
U.S.
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is scheduled to land in
both New Delhi and Islamabad for talks next week.
