But India wants the talks to focus on an issue it considers central to its relations with Pakistan: an end to cross-border terrorism and justice for the 26/11 carnage that was perpetrated by Pakistan-based militants.

After six dossiers India gave and months of pressure from New Delhi and Washington, the Pakistani police Monday put Saeed under house arrest with a posse of police personnel ringing his residence in Lahore. The police also barred Saeed from leading Eid prayers on grounds of 'security concerns'.

Also on Monday, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram demanded that Saeed be interrogated as all evidence against him was 'on Pakistani soil'.

'Even if it is a face saving technique, I have no objection. My demand is that now that he has been arrested, he should be interrogated for his role in the 26/11 incidents,' Chidambaram told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Chennai.

'Evidence is on Pakistani soil. When Pakistan says 'give us evidence', evidence is not on Indian soil. All the evidence against Hafiz Saeed is on Pakistani soil,' the home minister said.

'Therefore, one must investigate in Pakistan and find the evidence in Pakistan,' Chidambaram said while referring to Islamabad's contention that the evidence provided by New Delhi against Saeed.

The meeting between the two foreign ministers, the first high-level contact between the two countries after the meeting between their prime ministers in July, will be keenly watched for any sign that may indicate the resumption of stalled comprehensive dialogue between the two countries.

But the meeting, say reliable sources, is unlikely to produce any breakthrough as there is growing perception in India that Pakistan has done little to bring 26/11 attackers to justice after the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Saturday made it clear that the resumption of dialogue, stalled after 26/11 attacks, is contingent on Islamabad tackling cross-border terror 'squarely'.

'The dialogue process is contingent on creating an atmosphere free from violence. The first step we need to take is to squarely address the issue of terrorism,' she stressed.