Inida and Pakistan 'were close to agreement'

India and Pakistan were ready to sign a landmark accord twice at this week's three-day peace summit, but it fell apart both times, according to Pakistan's Interior Minister.

Abdul Sattar refused to lay blame for the breakdown and instead spoke of building on the progress made by President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the talks in Agra.

The two leaders made no joint final statement after the talks, apparently because of differences over the disputed Kashmir region, which both countries claim as part of their territory.