LONDON, Sept 20 Pakistan is considering naming a former top diplomat as a special envoy for informal peace talks with India, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said.

Mr Qureshi told Reuters Pakistan might appoint former foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan to handle the informal dialogue known as 'back-channel diplomacy'.

A resumption of these talks would be an important step in easing tensions between Pakistan and India, whose rivalry complicates US efforts to bring stability to Afghanistan.

But Mr Qureshi said informal talks would work only if they were held in parallel with a formal peace process broken off by India after last year's attack on Mumbai.“One can understand the usefulness of the back-channel diplomacy, especially when the atmosphere is so charged,”

he said. “It could be useful and Pakistan is open to that.”

But for these to succeed, the two countries would also need to create an environment of trust. “That can only be done, in my opinion, if the front and the back-channel move in tandem.”

New Delhi has refused to reopen formal talks until Pakistan took more action against militants whose campaign in occupied Kashmir it says has spread to the rest of India.

Pakistan says it is seeking evidence with which to prosecute militants and wants cooperation from India in fighting terrorism from which it says both countries suffer.

Mr Qureshi, who will meet Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna in New York on Sept 27, has said he does not expect any breakthrough there.

The two countries' foreign secretaries will also meet in New York on Sept 26, he said.

But he said the talks might help pave the way for another meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad in November.

“There is a possibility and I think in there lies an opportunity. So if we can improve the climate in New York, then I think the possibility, the chances of an interaction increase.”

India and Pakistan have held three bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international gatherings since June.

But the thaw has been undermined by political opposition in India and by what New Delhi sees as Pakistani foot-dragging in tackling the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group blamed for the Mumbai attack.

Last week, Pakistani police filed complaints against Hafiz Saeed, accusing him of encouraging jihad and raising funds for a banned charity.

“This proves the government is not in any way soft on him,” said Mr Qureshi. “If we have a case, we will move against him.”

However, Hafiz Saeed has not yet been arrested, and Pakistan is also seeking more evidence over his alleged involvement in Mumbai attack.

Washington is keen to see better relations between the two countries to reduce the Pakistan Army's focus on its eastern border with India and dampen their rivalry in Afghanistan.

Analysts have been waiting to see who Pakistan names as a special envoy as a signal of its willingness to resume back-channel talks which under former president Pervez Musharraf had sketched out a roadmap for peace in Kashmir.

He would replace Gen (retd) Musharraf's own envoy in talks with Indian diplomat Satinder Lambah.

“Riaz Mohammad Khan, we feel, is a seasoned diplomat and he is also aware, to an extent, of how things proceeded so there is an element of continuity, so he could be a useful and a good choice,” said Mr Qureshi “So he is being, yes, being considered.”--Reuters