Islamabad, July 15 (IANS) Talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan were extended Thursday, with a senior Indian official saying there was ‘good news’ to report.

‘It is good news,’ the official said while rushing to a post-lunch meeting in the Pakistani foreign ministry where ministers S.M. Krishna of India and Shah Mahmood Qureshi of Pakistan opened talks Thursday morning.

They had been expected to end their interaction by afternoon and then address a joint press conference.

But the Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman announced that the media briefing would take place only at 6 p.m., triggering a disappointing roar from the Indian, Pakistani and foreign journalists packing the briefing hall.

Indian and Pakistani sources said Krishna would stick to his schedule of calling on Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari before returning to the foreign ministry for another round of discussions.

(M.R. Narayan Swamy can be contacted at narayan.swamy@ians.in)