New Delhi, say Pakistani officials, touched off a war of words when it expressed "concern" last week at the spiralling violence in Balochistan and military action there and asked Pakistan to "exercise restraint".

Pakistan's response was swift - it said India's comments were "unwarranted" and amounted to interference in its internal affairs. Islamabad also noted that New Delhi's stand was "contrary" to efforts aimed at creating peace and stability in South Asia.

Despite these hiccups, officials admitted the third round of talks under the composite dialogue would go ahead as scheduled from January 17.

"We (Pakistan and India) will start the third round of the dialogue on January 17 with talks between the foreign secretaries," a senior government official said.

In the two-day talks to be held in New Delhi, both sides will discuss matters related to peace and security, including the nuclear dimension, besides the Kashmir dispute.

"A formal announcement about dates for more talks under the third round is expected shortly," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The meeting of the foreign secretaries will mark the first high-level contact between the two countries in 2006, said the official, adding the recent war of words, "though unfortunate", will not affect the talks schedule.

Experts too believe the talks will go ahead though the recent developments could affect the atmospherics.

Sardar Assef Ahmed, a former foreign minister, said: "This (war of words) has happened after a long time and India should have avoided such statements when both countries are successfully moving ahead with their peace initiative."

Ahmed said such statements could "spoil the atmosphere of dialogue", especially when the media is out to find such stories. "I would suggest both sides should not lose such an opportunity (for peace)."

Mushahid Hussain Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Senate's foreign affairs committee and secretary general of ruling Pakistan Muslim League, said India's statements were "unwanted".

"We hope India will exercise restraint in issuing such statements in future," he remarked. But he hastened to add that the composite dialogue "will go on and should go on".