Sending a tough message, India said on Tuesday that it has demanded the handing over of LeT chief Hafiz Mohammad and other fugitives in Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks and would await Islamabad's response.

With India seeking "urgent and effective" measures to address the grievances of its Nepal-based entrepreneurs, Prime Minister Prachanda has promised to provide security to the businessmen facing frequent labour unrest which has affected their operations.

In a bid to strengthen security along the porous Indo-Nepal border, four integrated checkposts would be set up in Bihar and the landlocked Himalayan country, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Raxaul on Wednesday.

When Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda met Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday at his residence in Kathmandu, the former revolutionary had a genuine smile and an extra warm handshake for the visitor.

Rebuffing China's claim on Arunachal Pradesh, India on Sunday asserted that the north eastern state is its integral part and ruled out ceding any of its part.

Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan which has to be sorted out between the two countries, External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday.

In the wake of global financial crisis, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday that India will face challenges pursuing its economic reforms and shaping policies concerning security and foreign aspects.

Underlining the serious threat posed by terrorism to global peace, India on Sunday said it wanted to address all issues that have affected ties with Pakistan and stressed on enhancing economic and transport links between the two countries.

Drawing a parallel between the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and the IPI gas pipeline, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said the basic imperative of both was to secure energy as he invited Iranian investment in India, particularly in oil and gas sectors.

India has backed Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and also underlined New Delhi's enduring special relations with Tehran irrespective of the growing strategic ties with Washington.

India on Monday said it was free to make a nuclear bomb should it feel it necessary to do so keeping in view the regional geo-political situation and the country's defence requirements.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Sunday assured External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee that his party's MPs will not insist on quitting parliament following the talks between New Delhi and Colombo on the civilian suffering in Sri Lanka.

Former Pakistani Minister and noted human rights activist Ansar Burney on Friday demanded that India also consider release of all Pakistanis who had completed their jail terms as a reciprocate gesture.

India on Thursday said it does not want influx of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka into its territory, saying it is the responsibility of the island nation to provide food and shelter to civilians displaced because of hostilities there.

Contending that there were "different perceptions" on "transgressions" by Chinese troops into Indian territory, Government on Thursday said the two countries had agreed to exchange maps delineating the frontier but the progress is "not very bright".

Russia and India were on Monday laying the groundwork for the signing of a civil nuclear energy deal, following New Delhi's signing of similar pacts with Washington and Paris, officials said.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the plight of Tamil civilians caught in the military conflict in the island nation, the Indian government on Sunday decided to send External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerjee to Colombo to discuss the issue.

A ministerial committee, set up to look into the armed forces' grievance about pay "anomalies", is likely to sort out the matter soon.

With India's concerns over India-US civil nuclear deal met, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are all set to sign the bilateral 123 pact to seal the landmark accord.

India and Iran are expected to discuss ways to push the proposed trilateral gas pipeline project when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee travels to Tehran on November 1.

US President George W Bush will sign the Congressional approval of the Indo-US nuclear deal into law October 8, hopefully taking care of Indian concerns over a couple of new riders in the legislation.

Asserting that there are "no open issues" on the nuclear deal, the United States on Saturday said it will stand by its commitments in the 123 agreement with India.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Delhi on Saturday on a day-long visit, but the 123 Agreement will not be signed during her trip.

Seeking united, determined and decisive action against international terrorism, India on Thursday asserted that no cause or religion justifies the menace whatever be the objective.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Russian counterpart Servey Lavrov held wide-ranging discussions on international issues with special emphasis on progress made in strategic partnership between the two countries and the forthcoming annual summit.