Manmohan Singh and Zardari will meet next week in Russia

New Delhi, June 12 (ANI): Indian Prime Minister and Pakistani President will be meeting next week on the margins of Shanghai Cooperation Organistaion at the Russian Industrial city of Yeketenberg on June 16, disclosed Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.

This will be the first high-level contact between the two countries after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, but the meeting is likely to be a symbolic handshake and not a resumption of dialogue.

Indian Foreign Secretary Menon said, "They will be in the same room, same time, so they will be shaking hands. But what kind of meeting it can be I can't say."

India has made it clear that dialogue with Pakistan can only be resumed when it dismantles terror infrastructure on its soil, which is used for launching terror attacks in India.

On the resumption of dialogue the Indian Foreign Secretary said, "There is nothing more authoritative what PM has said on the floor of the House."

Earlier, Indian Premier had said," We would meet our neighbour more than half way, if it cracked down on militants."

US Under Secretary William Burns, who is presently visiting India, also pitched for the resumption of India-Pakistan talks.

This is for the first time the Prime Minister of India is attending the Shanghai Cooperation summit. Manmohan Singh will also be attending the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) summit, which is taking place the same day and the same venue. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)