Terrorism will be the "central point" of New Delhi's agenda when Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries meet in Islamabad Thursday, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said on Monday.

"This menace has to be dealt with firmly and in a transparent manner for the common good of India and Pakistan and the region beyond," he said.

But he underlined that "in the kind of talks we are going to be involved with, patience is something to be called for".

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will be in Islamabad June 23-25 for talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir .

They are expected to discuss many issues including their dragging dispute over Kashmir.

"We have to be patient, realistic and positive. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said on more than one occasion, peace and prosperity of South Asia is interlinked," Krishna said.