Pakistan has admitted for the first time that its nationals carried out a terrorist attack in India, Manmohan Singh said.

'It is the first (time) that they have admitted that their nationals and terrorist organisation based in Pakistan carried out a ghastly attack in India,' he said.

He said the admission was made in the dossier handed over to New Delhi just before he left for Egypt. 'This is the first time that Pakistan has ever formally briefed us on the results of the investigations of any attacks,' said the prime minister, saying no previous government had been able to get such a confession out of Pakistan before.

He said the dossier detailed the planning and sequence of investigation by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency, which also included the copy of first information report lodged, with photos of the arrested persons.

'The Pakistan dossier states that the investigation has established beyond doubt that Lashkar-e-Taiba has planned that attack,' Manmohan Singh said.

Manmohan Singh stressed that these steps are not enough and reminded Islamabad to take 'exemplary punishment' against the perpetrators of the Mumbai carange.

'The operations of all terror groups that threaten India must shut down,' he emphasised.

In his meetings with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Gilani, Manmohan Singh said he 'conveyed in strongest possible words our concerns and expectations and the deep anger and hurt of the people of India' over the Mumbai attacks.

'It's our obligation to keep the channels of communication open,' Manmohan Singh said while alluding to efforts by the US and Iran to start a dialogue and repair their ties that have been strained for three decades.