The Foreign Secretary Mrs Nirupama Rao has said that dialogue between India and Pakistan is a must if we have to resolve the issues satisfactorily. Mrs Nirupama Rao said, there are a number of outstanding issues between India and Pakistan and India is going into the talks with an open and constructive mind . Speaking to media at Thimpu this morning she expressed the hope that her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir will also have a number of ideas to discuss . She said it is an exploratory discussion and through this process a way forward can be found . On Samjhauta blast case , Mrs Rao said investigation is going on in the case. She said, it was an act of terrorism and there is no doubt about it She said that when India is ready to share evidence on the case it will do so . She pointed out that that India has never shied away from discussing them.

Mrs. Rao will meet her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir later today. This is their first meeting after the one in Islamabad in July last year . The Pakistan Foreign secretary said that he is looking forward to the meeting and they are in Thimpu for the preparation of engagement between the two foreign ministers . Downplaying the issue of Samjhauta blast case Bashir said that he would not like to make any specific comment , there are plenty of issues . He said two should work towards continues engagement.

India has said that they will attempt to unlock the process of dialogue and explore new ways to move step by step in a forward looking manner . Sources said that they do not want to say anything that will vitiate the atmosphere and expressed the hope that Pakistan will approach the talks in the same spirit . India has maintained that it is willing to discuss all issues , though it cannot be bound by any time lines. Earlier top officials said India wants that the process to begin with doables like meeting of judicial committee on prisoners , trade and commerce , movement of people and sir creek . In response to a question on Pakistan raising the Samjhauta blast investigations, sources pointed out that there is no comparisons in terms of the gravity and scale between Samjhauta blast and 26/11 and the two cannot be linked . India will raise the issue of the glacial pace at which the trial against those involved in the Mumbai terror attack is going on in Pakistan.