NEW DELHI, July 12: Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Friday that very little had changed on the ground in the standoff with Pakistan since last month’s visit here by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, and listed afresh New Delhi’s demand for the repatriation of 20 alleged fugitives it says are sheltered by Pakistan.

Fernandes’ remarks in Patna, as quoted by the Press Trust of India, appeared to indicate the tough stance New Delhi might be preparing to assume with US Secretary of State Colin Powell due here next week, analysts said.

“Overall things have not changed since Armitage’s visit for defrosting in the subcontinent....cross border infiltration and export of terrorism to India continue,” Fernandes told reporters, rejecting the possibility of demobilization of troops.

“There can be no movement in the direction of peace until Pakistan hands over to India the 20 most wanted men taking shelter in that country, ends infiltration and dismantles terrorist camps run by it,” he said.

By stressing that nothing had changed since the June 7 visit to New Delhi by the tough-talking deputy of Powell, India unwittingly endorsed the fears expressed by Washington this week that the military standoff between India and Pakistan was still quite worrying.

“The situation is still tense and we want to see, of course, issues are resolved through dialogue, peacefully. And our engagement with both governments is part of that, part of the diplomacy,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker was quoted by Star News channel as saying in Washington.

“We will continue to stress the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues when the Secretary (Powell) meets in those capitals” of India and Pakistan, he added.

Powell “wants to take the opportunity to continue our engagement with both the government of India and the government of Pakistan,” Reeker said.

“We have strong bilateral relationships with both countries, a lot of things to talk about, as well as regional issues, and to continue seeing lessening of tensions between India and Pakistan. As you know, there remain a number of soldiers along the Line of Control, along the borders,” he added

Asked to comment on Armitage’s statement that President Pervez Musharraf had assured him of ending cross-border infiltration and closing down militant camps alleged to be located near the LoC, Fernandes said: “The situation has hardly improved after Armitage went back... later there were reports quoting Musharraf that he never said cross-border terrorism would end permanently”.

As a matter of fact, after his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the last on his day-long schedule in New Delhi, Armitage had told reporters: “I did have discussions both here and in Islamabad about the possibilities and modalities of monitoring the LoC, but no decision has been taken as yet to the best of my knowledge.”