NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday informed leaders of the Left parties that the India-Pakistan joint mechanism to combat terrorism was an experiment he wanted to try out to find a permanent solution to the long-standing problems between the two countries. Stating that "war is not an option," Dr. Singh pointed out that he was dutybound to explore all options.

The meeting, held at the instance of the Prime Minister, was attended by Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and A.B. Bardhan and D. Raja of the CPI. Dr. Singh explained the rationale behind the joint mechanism.

Though the details of the joint mechanism are yet to be worked out, he told them that it would be a two-tier system — one would provide a public face, while the other would carry out the real work behind the scenes.

On the Bharatiya Janata Party's charge that he had surrendered India's interests, Dr. Singh is understood to have taken a combative stance. He told the Left leaders that he would raise the issue with the BJP and ask them to suggest workable options. Pointing out that the National Democratic Alliance had decided to go in for talks with Pakistan after Kargil, he wondered why the BJP was questioning the decision to resume the dialogue with Pakistan after the Mumbai blasts.

On his talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, particularly India's claim that the Inter-Services Intelligence had a hand in the Mumbai blasts, Dr. Singh said General Musharraf told him that it could have been the handiwork of freelancers. Even if India were to accept this, Dr. Singh said it would wait for Pakistan's response to the information that the Indian intelligence agencies have gathered about the blasts. Details of the trail uncovered by the agencies would be sent to Pakistan.

Friday's meeting was billed by the Left leaders as a routine exercise that the Prime Minister undertook before and after every overseas visit. Before Dr. Singh embarked on his two-nation trip earlier this month, the Left leaders met him and made out a case for the resumption of the dialogue with Pakistan.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary, T.K.A. Nair, were present.

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