New Delhi had ticked off Canberra for its angry reaction to the tests, recalling its defence attache and suspending all bilateral military co-operation.

Moves to put the bilateral ties back on the track to normalcy follow the meeting between Downer and India's External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh in Singapore in June with both affirming a desire to strengthen the bilateral, economic and political ties.

``Yes, the ties with Australia are back to normal. The Australian foreign secretary will be in India shortly for discussions with his counterpart. That will be followed by a visit by Downer himself in November,'' Singh told PTI in New Delhi.

Describing the change in Australia's attitude towards India after the meeting betweenthe two foreign ministers as ``positive'', Indian High Commissioner to Australia C R Ravindernathan said ``Australia is very keen to strengthen bilateral ties.''

About the outcome of the Singapore meeting, Ravindernathan said Australia had proposed to resume the annual consultation between the two foreign secretaries, which were suspended during post-Pokharan deep freeze.

Canberra had also extended an invitation to India's External Affairs Minister to visit that country which would strengthen the bilateral ties.He said that Australia's post-Pokharan tests attitude only affected political and official front. However, Australia did not ``apply the brakes on economic interaction with India.''

``If there was any decline on the trade front it could have been because of some recession in the Indian market not because of nuclear tests,'' he said, adding, ``In fact, there is constant increase in the trade between the two countries.'' On Australia's stand towards India on Kargil, he said, ``Australian governmenthas commended India's stand and appreciated its handling of the issue.''

With all the efforts, starting from the visit of Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer in February this year, followed by Singapore meeting between the two foreign ministers, it seems India is on the verge of resuming broad-based relationship with Australia.