Yekaterinburg, Russia: India and Pakistan will begin to talk to each other again but after a cold handshake, the Prime Minister in an unprecedented move didn't even wait for the media to leave before telling President Asif Zardari that India would only talk about terrorism.
"My mandate is limited to talking about terror," said Manmohan Singh.
No question of the old 'composite' dialogue, in other words not warm hugs it's a cold start after a cold war.
Confirmed by Foreign Secretary PM told Zardari that mandate for this meeting is 'limited' to talking about terror. Delhi moved quickly to downplay reports that Zardari had been embarrassed.
"His making an opening remark in front of cameras shouldn't be read as unprecedented. Some reports suggested," said Shiv Shankar Menon, Foreign Secretary, India.
But there was no mistaking Delhi's concern. This was their first meeting since the Mumbai attacks, a terror attack which derailed India-Pak talks.
If earlier New Delhi succeeded in getting Islamabad to accept a Pakistan hand in the attacks today Delhi agreed to take the talks forward on one major condition that they only discuss how to stop terror against India.
So, the Dr Singh and Zardari decided, within the next one-month the foreign secretaries will meet.