India said today it wanted a "meaningful reduction" in cross-border terrorism in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir before resuming stalled peace talks with Pakistan.
The apparent softening in India's stand on came a day after Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee ruled out talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf until he brings an end to cross-border terrorism.
"For peace efforts to move forward, you have to see a meaningful reduction in cross-border terrorism," external affairs spokeswoman Mr Nirupama Rao said.
India said today it had no plans to attack across its border with Pakistan in disputed Kashmir.
Pakistan had accused India of threatening to cross the military Line of Control (LoC) dividing the Himalayan region.
"We don't want to cross the border," Indian Home Minister Mr LK Advani told a ceremony honouring war widows. He said India could win its military campaign without crossing the LoC.
His comments came a day after Pakistan's military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, vowed to teach India a lesson if it crossed the border.
Tension between the nuclear foes has heightened higher in recent weeks over escalating separatist violence in Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of arming guerrillas in Kashmir while Islamabad says it provides them with only moral support.
Pressure has been building on New Delhi to strike against militant camps across the border after a suicide attack on Kashmir's legislature on October 1st killed 38 people.
Four Muslim rebels, an air force employee and a civilian were killed yesterday when a Pakistan-based militant group tried to storm a military airfield.
The United States has urged India and Pakistan to renew their peace dialogue while it focuses on its military campaign against Afghanistan.
Human rights organisations say at least 60,000 people have died since the fighting began in 1989.