Agreeing that dialogue was the way forward, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday directed their foreign ministers and foreign secretaries to work out the modalities of restoring trust between the two countries. "They agreed that the foreign ministers and foreign secretaries will be charged with working out the modalities of restoring trust, paving the way for substantive dialogue between the two countries," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters after the 50-minute meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

The focus is on charting the way forward, she said.

Pakistan agreed to bring the trial of the Mumbai accused to a speedy conclusion.

The two prime ministers met at Bhutan House in the SAARC Village, created specially for the heads of South Asian countries who have gathered here for the 16th SAARC summit.