India on Thursday indicated it would not be keen on the resumption of the Amritsar-Lahore Samjhauta Express service unless some movement was shown by Pakistan over restoration of overflight facilities and introduction of additional Delhi-Lahore bus services.

Indo-Pak peace process: The complete coverage

Pakistan is yet to positively respond to India's offer to restore overflight facilities, Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar in New Delhi.

"We do not have any problem with regard to resumption of the Samjhauta rail link. But given Pakistan's attitude towards overflights and the bus service, how can we proceed on the rail link?" Sibal asked.

Asserting that India would pursue step-by-step approach towards improving bilateral ties, Sibal said any talk of resumption of rail link would only "amount to accelerating the pace of normalisation unnecessarily. We have to take a step, consolidate on it, and then move further."

Pakistan on July 24 had proposed resumption of rail links between the two countries.

Sibal's comments come a week before technical-level talks in Islamabad on the resumption of civil aviation links between the two countries.

Asked when does he expect bilateral dialogue to resume, Sibal said: "Talks have already started indirectly, with the high commissioners of both the countries in place. Whatever political message has to be given, can be delivered through the respective high commissioners," he said.

However, as far as the resumption of ministry-level talks are concerned, it would begin only after Pakistan takes effective steps on ending cross-border terrorism, the foreign secretary said.

Asked about Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's demand for an immediate start to peace talks, Sibal said: "He says so as this suits him. By talking about dialogue, he wants to sideline our concerns about terrorism emanating from that country. Why doesn't he say that he will put an immediate end to cross-border terrorism?" Sibal asked.