India and Pakistan have agreed to adopt a forward-looking approach in normalising their ties, recognising the need to speedily bring perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attack to justice.

Both External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar emphasised the need for the two countries to set the sight on the future and not be held hostage by the past.

At a joint press conference with Khar, after the two countries signed a liberalised visa agreement, Krishna said both sides had agreed that terrorism posed a continuing threat to peace and reaffirmed their commitment to fight the menace effectively.

He said the Pakistani side reiterated its commitment to bring to justice all perpetrators of Mumbai attack expeditiously, in accordance with due process of law.

Describing his talks with Khar as cordial, frank and positive, Krishna said the foreign secretaries will hold talks on all eight segments of the resumed dialogue process before the two foreign ministers meet in New Delhi next year.

Krishna said the changed atmosphere in Pakistan augurs well for both countries, and asked both sides to keep their sights on the future.

Krishna termed Pakistan's move to release all Indian fishermen as a “wonderful gesture” and hoped that their boats and trawlers will be returned at the earliest.

In reply to question, he said, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh never put conditions to visit Pakistan. The visit will take place when the atmosphere is right. On Sircreek and Siachen the Minister said, that the long standing issues can not be resolved in few hours.

Khar said the two sides will build on convergences and will not brood on divergences. she said both must not be held hostage by history. They should learn from missed opportunities and must commit to not lose further opportunities.

Khar cited Pakistan's move to normalise trade ties with India as a strong message of its intentions to forge ahead towards an improved relationship. She said they are are looking at India with a completely different mindset. She said when Pakistan decided to change a position it has held to for 40 years and liberalise trade ties with India, Pakistan is sending a very very strong message of being willing to forge ahead without being hostage to the past.

Khar said the India-Pakistan relationship has been one characterised by several missed opportunities and referred to the avalanche that buried over 100 Pakistani soldiers at an Army camp in Siachen.

She said the new visa agreement was the first big step in easing travel restrictions, but the two sides agree that much more needed to be done.

She also said that aspirations of the Kashmiri people should be accommodated.