India refuses to commit to a time frame for PM's Pakistan visit

Islamabad: India today refused to commit to a date for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Pakistan, despite a statement by Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar that Dr Singh may visit Pakistan in the next three months. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan for talks, said that the atmosphere has to be "ripe" and something "worthwhile" should come out from such a trip.

"Prime Minister has never put conditions for his visit to Pakistan. I think, the visit will take place at an appropriate time when the atmosphere is ripe, when he feels that something worthwhile will come out of visit," Mr Krishna said at a joint press conference with Ms Khar, his Pakistani counterpart.

When asked a specific question on whether the PM would come before the end of the year, Mr Krishna said, "the PM's schedule is decided months in advance". Sources have told NDTV that a visit by the PM will hinge largely on visible progress on terrorism.