Officials in the Ministry of External Affairs were deliberately low-key about the issues discussed between the two sides, only saying they covered ```non-proliferation and disarmament, the role of the United Nations, bilateral cooperation and developments in Europe and South Asia.''

This is New Delhi's second formal dialogue with an acknowledged nuclear power and a permanent member of the Security Council, and therein said analysts, lie the significance of the talks.

Even as the US puts pressure on India to adhere to the global non-proliferation regime, the discussions with Paris serve to enlarge the scope of manoeuvre for India, analysts added.

French officials, conceding they ``are the ultimate realists'', have said they would like ``India to find aplace in the post-Pokharan world.''

Nevertheless, Paris would like India to unilaterally take certain steps, such as show restraint on weaponisation and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, so as to strengthen its hand when it talks to the other nuclear weapons powers.

India's representative, Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra, assisted by the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary and Ministry officials, is believed to have outlined to the French President's special representative Gerard Errera New Delhi's initiatives on arms control as well as proposals on building confidence with Pakistan.

Errera also called on Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Defence Minister George Fernandes today.