Moscow, May 14: Asserting that the US pressure on Islamabad to end cross-border terrorism was "not reassuring on the ground", India today made it clear that an end to violence and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure by Pakistan is a "practical necessity" for improving ties. During an hour-long meeting here with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, the US Secretary of State Colin Powell assured him that Washington would continue to stress upon Pakistan the need to take action on cross-border terrorist activities. Sinha later told Indian media that he emphasised the need to put an end to cross-border terrorism against India and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure "before confidence building measures could develop". Indian officials said it was clear from the conversation that the US "accepts the validity" of New Delhi's step-by-step approach to the entire peace process. Asked whether he was satisfied with the amount and level of pressure the US was mounting on Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism against India, Sinha said "we don't have a barometer to gauge this. However, in some way the words conveyed to us (by US) are very reassuring, but the effect on the ground is not very reassuring. Sinha stressed upon the fundamental importance of ensuring that the process of re-engagement with Pakistan "is not disrupted by terrorist attacks and that an end to cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is a practical necessity," the officials said. Sinha told Powell that the key to normalisation of Indo-Pak relations and a bilateral summit would remain remote possibility till a conducive climate is generated by Pakistan. Both Sinha and Powell are on bilateral visits in the Russian capital. "Powell briefed me about his contacts with President (Pervez) Musharraf and others in the Pakistani establishment and shared the opinion about ending cross-border terrorism against India," Sinha said. The minister explained the rational behind Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's peace initiatives and the step-by-step approach initiated by India. "In a step-by-step approach various issues should be decided at various levels. A time will come when talks about talks could begin between foreign offices of the two countries. But the summit is far away and it will come right at the end, when all issues are sorted out at other levels, " Sinha said. Sinha ruled out any third party mediation be it US or Russia or both jointly in resolving Indo-Pak issues. Specifically noting Russia's 'unstinted support' for India on cross-border terrorism, Sinha said that in spite of often talk of a US role in resolving Indo-Pak standoff, Powell did not make any such suggestion during the meeting. "Our conversation was in very cordial atmosphere and we had full understanding," Sinha said. Sinha said that during the meeting the draft resolution initiated by US and Britain for lifting of UN sanctions on Iraq was discussed. He ruled out dispatching any military contingent to Iraq or Indian participation in post-war reconstruction outside the UN umbrella. Bureau Report