India - Pakistan defence secretaries talks start today

Setting the tone ahead of the India and Pakistan defence secretaries talks that start on Monday, Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani reiterated Islamabad's stand that it would not allow its soil to be used to plot terror strikes against any country.

This statement come just hours before his defence secretary General Syed Athar Ali meets his Indian counterpart Pradeep Kumar for talks after a gap of three years.

Their prime focus will be Siachen - But can they reduce the trust deficit between the two countries?

Indian and Pakistani defence secretaries resume talks on the Siachen Glacier after a gap of three years.

Sources have told CNN-IBN that the two sides are expected to reiterate standard positions on Siachen - Pakistan wanting a return to the 1972 troop position as mentioned in the Shimla Agreement and India demanding that Pakistan authenticate the present deployment of troops.

India controls much of the glacier including the Saltoro Ridge.

The talks are taking place against the background of tough language from Delhi.

"The more I see of what is happening in Pakistan the more I am convinced that Pakistan's leadership must now wake up, and must recognise that the terror machine they have or at least some elements in the country patronise, is working not to anybody's advantage," said Manmohan Singh.

"The US supplied the huge amount of money and weapons to eliminate terrorists in Afghanistan. The fact is that Pakistan is using major chunk of weapons they received, against India," said AK Antony.

Sources warn that little progress can be expected given the trust deficit between the two sides. The deficit has widened since Osama bin Laden was found and eliminated from the closely guarded Abbottabad complex earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani was optimistic about the talks. On Sunday, he responded to Manmohan Singh's remarks.

"We have ensured that our soil is not used for terror attacks in any country. Both the military and political leadership are on the same page on this issue," he said.