NEW DELHI: Indian and Pakistani journalists on Sunday largely agreed on the need for "silent diplomacy" if the two countries are to get anywhere towards resolving some of their long-standing disputes.

Speakers, that included former diplomats, foreign policy experts and leading journalists from the seven member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), urged the press to keep off such behind-the-scene talks in the larger interest of peace in the subcontinent.

Stating that thaw in the India-Pakistan relationship had been brought about mainly due to "secret" talks between the two governments, the speakers urged the media not to hamper the peace process by trying to determine who the winner or loser was at any given time.

Listing three "don'ts" for the India-Pakistan peace process, strategic affairs expert C Raja Mohan said if the countries plan to sustain the dialogue, "then they should not expect the negotiations to take place in the glare of the camera."