By Y.P. Rajesh NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The bombing of a train from India to Pakistan which killed 68 people this week is expected to dominate talks between their foreign ministers on Wednesday, but the fact they are meeting signals a new diplomatic maturity. Talks between Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri -- the third in three months -- originally sought to improve trust and push the pace of a slow-moving peace process. But the blasts on the Samjhauta Express, which connects New Delhi to the Pakistani city of Lahore, hijacked those plans and again underlined the threats that the fragile peace faces, officials and analysts said. Although early investigations have seen no breakthrough and New Delhi has refrained from pointing a finger across the border as it has in the past, suspicion has once again fallen on Muslim extremists opposed to peace between the neighbours. Both countries have condemned the attack and said it must not be allowed to undermine better ties. "Terrorism will remain on the agenda until we are convinced Pakistan has permanently closed the tap of terror there," said an Indian foreign ministry official, referring to New Delhi's position that Pakistan allows militants to operate from its soil. "We have to continue to work together and keep the pressure to ensure we achieve that." The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two sides would discuss how a joint system they set up last year to fight terrorism could be used to investigate the bombings. The long-time South Asian rivals launched peace talks three years ago after coming close to the brink of what would have been their fourth war. While the peace process has yet to achieve any significant success -- particularly on the central dispute over Kashmir -- it has improved relations and the Samjhauta train was a symbol of that thaw. COMMITMENT TO PEACE Last month the two foreign ministers met in Islamabad in what appeared to be a more cordial atmosphere. On Wednesday they will sign an accord to reduce risks of accidents linked to nuclear arsenals, the Indian foreign ministry said ahead of the talks. Kasuri will also call on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The fact that Kasuri's visit is going ahead despite the attack on the train illustrates a new vigour in pursuing peace, diplomatic analysts said. But no breakthroughs were in sight yet, they added. Last year India briefly suspended talks after 186 people were killed in a series of bomb blasts on commuter trains in the country's financial capital, Mumbai. "Both governments are now realising that unless they go ahead and keep the talks going, the terrorists will get an upper hand," said Talat Masood, an analyst and retired Pakistani army general. "That's why they will try to keep the talks on track." Sukh Deo Muni, a South Asia expert at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, agreed. "It is good that both governments don't want to be cowed down by this," he said. "It would be even better if they come out more concretely towards positive decisions." (Additional reporting by Zeeshan Haider in Islamabad)
