ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday accused India of dragging its feet on dialogue with Pakistan because of internal political expediencies.

“Let it be known that Pakistan is ready to engage with an open heart and discuss issues face to face with India, but it is India that is shying away from a dialogue, which is the only way forward,” a visibly agitated foreign minister told media persons at the Foreign Office when asked to comment on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that atmospherics were not conducive for talks with Pakistan.

“What was Sharm El Sheikh, what was the agreement, if there is going to be no dialogue then where are we going,” Mr Qureshi wondered while referring to the joint statement issued after Manmohan Singh-Gilani meeting at the Red Sea Egyptian Resort where both leaders had agreed that dialogue was the only option and that action against terrorism should be de-linked from the talks process.

The foreign minister asked the Indian government to suggest a way out if the two countries were not to talk to each other.

“If the road forward is dialogue, then why are they shying away? They should come and sit and talk.”

He emphasised that Pakistan was firmly holding on to its stance that normalisation would benefit both, but it was India that was wavering on its commitment to resolve the problem through talks.

About India's double speak, he said “They (India) hesitate on dialogue, but they want cooperation against terrorism and give us dossiers. They want progress and then --shy away from talks. Both things cannot go together.”