Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said there were no pre-conditions for talks with Pakistan but they cannot make headway unless there is “effective control” of the terror groups operating in that country.

Winding up his two-day visit to the Kashmir valley, he also voiced the hope that separatists and others would reciprocate his appeal for a dialogue with all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Asked at a press conference in Srinagar on Thursday, whether his statement on Wednesday that Pakistan should destroy terror camps will be a pre-condition for talks, Singh said “It is not a pre-condition. But there is a practical way of looking at (things). Negotiations can’t make headway unless Pakistan brings under effective control these terror groups.”

He said India is a democracy and if day in and day out terrorists continue attacks and take precious lives “we cannot create an atmosphere for negotiations”.

“Negotiations can’t make headway unless Pakistan brings under control the terrorist elements which aid and abet terrorism in India,” the Prime Minister said.

He also made it clear that Pakistan’s actions against those believed to be behind the Mumbai attacks were not satisfactory and expressed the hope that Islamabad would bring all the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice.