SAARC yes, but no summit with Pakistan:Indian FM

''I am bringing expectations down, because everyone thinks that if Vajpayee travels to Islamabad for the Saarc meet, summit-level dialogue will take place between India and Pakistan,'' Sinha said.

''The point remains that there must be adequate preparation for a summit-level meeting, and I don't see enough time for such a summit to take place,'' he said.

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Sinha also made it clear that Pakistan should take further measures to prevent militants from crossing the LoC and infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir before India-Pak peace process gathered full pace.

Referring to the current pace of the peace process initiated by Vajpayee five months ago, Sinha counselled patience.

''When you're dealing with relations between India and Pakistan, there is a need to be patient. I think impatience has spoiled things in the past, impatience may spoil things once again,'' he said.

While expressing disappointment over Pakistan's reluctance to block the flow of individuals through the Line of Control, he said the new peace process, however, found a large number of supporters in both the countries which indicates that the process will remain sustainable.

Sinha said barring an ''accident'', there was no possibility of the Indo-Pak tension becoming an election issue in the next general elections in India.

Asked whether there was any opposition to peace in India as it was poised for national elections next year, Sinha said, ''Contrary to what might have been expected, the process initiated by Vajpayee has received wide support in India as indeed it has in Pakistan.''

In this regard, he pointed out the support enjoyed by the initiatives on both sides to promote people-to-people contacts.

''The recent people-to-people contact will show that the people of the two countries want peace.

"Therefore, barring an accident, I should think that Pakistan will not be an issue in Indian elections.''