While the Minister of External Affairs has denied the reports, highly-placed sources in the Government said Naik who had come with a message from Sharif had met Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra in ``search of a diplomatic solution''. Though it is not known what specific proposals Naik had brought with him, the sources said India was open to the idea of allowing Pakistani forces to retreat from the Line of Control (LoC). However, Naik had been told that ``the Pakistani forces would first have to go back from the LoC'' before talks could be held with Islamabad.

Naik, who pressed for a visit by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, was categorically told that ``such a visit could not takeplace'' unless the aggression was vacated.

The sources, who insisted that Naik was here as a member of the track-two bilateral dialogue process, said he flew back to Pakistan this morning.

With the US supporting the tough Indian position, New Delhi seems amenable to working out in some way modalities for a quick withdrawal of Pakistani troops. ``If the Pakistani troops and the vigilantes who have crossed into Indian territory across the LoC decide to pull back, they could retreat without substantial loss,'' the Government sources said. But they denied that the US was brokering an end to the conflict, pointing out that this had to be resolved bilaterally. ``The US is not suggesting a way out,'' they said.

The US special envoy, deputy assistant secretary of state Gibson Lanpher, who arrived here last night from Islamabad, said the sources, had in his briefing to the senior leadership here only reiterated that Washington was ``continuing to lean heavily on the Pakistanis''.

Lanpher himself toldjournalists that he had ``brought no proposals on safe passage or anything else from Islamabad''. He said he had come only to brief the Government about the visit of US Gen. Anthony Zinni to Pakistan last week.

Lanpher met Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra for over 45 minutes this afternoon as well as officials in the Ministry of External Affairs in talks that carried on for about two hours.

Meanwhile, the US seems to be going out of its way to indict Pakistan on the conflict, with the Washington Post reporting that as the ``instigator'', Pakistan will have ``to figure out how to restore the status quo ante'' on the LoC quickly.

``Quick compliance is essential,'' an official in the US State Department told the daily, pointing out that Pakistan was attempting to cut off Indian supply routes and New Delhi was determined to clear the intrusion before the snow returned in September.

The paper said Washington had also rejected Pakistani claims that Kashmiri militants and not Pakistani troops werefighting Indian troops in the Drass and Kargil sectors. ``There may be a handful of the Islamic militant irregulars known as mujahideen along with the troops, but most of the invaders are regulars from the 10th Corps of the Pakistan Army,'' the official said.

Meanwhile, New Delhi is keenly following a trip by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China beginning tomorrow. The Pakistan foreign office has publicly said Sharif will be seeking Beijing's support on the LoC crisis.

But coming in the wake of the recent visit by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, when Beijing proclaimed a ``relatively neutral'' position on the LoC conflict, Sharif's six-day trip will be noted for any statements the Chinese leadership makes.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath left tonight on a visit to France and Great Britain, amid reports from Islamabad that Paris will deliver this fortnight eight multi-purpose Mirage 3 and 5 fighter aircraft and an ultra-modern Agosta submarine, capable of firing any missile toboost the strength of the Pakistani air force.