New Delhi, Sept 2 (Inditop.com) Indicating its willingness to engage with Pakistan, India Wednesday said any meaningful dialogue will depend on Islamabad honouring its anti-terror pledge in letter and spirit and stressed that steps to address terrorism would also be in the interest of the neighbouring country.
“The composite dialogue had been paused after the terrorist attack on Mumbai. We do sincerely believe it is in our vital interest to engage and normalize our relations with Pakistan,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in response to a question from a journalist on the ministry’s performance in the government’s first 100 days in office.
“At the same time we are very clear that any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan can only be based on fulfillment of its commitment, in letter and spirit, not to allow its territory to be used in any manner for terrorist activities against India,” he added.
Therefore, steps to address the issue of terrorism will be in the interest of the bilateral relationship and also in the interest of Pakistan, the minister stressed.
Krishna also emphasised India’s pursuit of “a peaceful neighborhood in which all South Asian nations can work in concert to attain the common objective of growth and development, as well as combat challenges, especially the menace of terrorism.”
Underlining the interlinked destinies of South Asian countries, Krishna said that India is deepening relations with all its neighbours and is ensuring that the progress in relations is not held hostage to “difficult, outstanding issues.”
“We are deepening ties with a number of South Asian countries as also to see democratic traditions taking deeper roots in our neighborhood,” the minister maintained.
Krishna’s reminder to Islamabad of its anti-terror pledge came even as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik Wednesday highlighted the “resolute action” taken by his country to eliminate terrorism and made a fresh pitch for restarting the talks New Delhi froze after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed over 170 lives, including those of 26 foreigners.
Islamabad also sought to revive the Kashmir issue that found no explicit mention in the Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement that came out of the July 16 meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The resumption of the sub-continental dialogue would provide a good opportunity to address various issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, Malik said while addressing senior defence and civilian officers at the National Defence College here.
This, he added, was the essence of lasting and durable peace in South Asia.
Malik averred that Pakistan was “taking resolute action to eliminate terrorism and militancy” and highlighted some of the steps taken by his country in the aftermath of the Nov 26-29, 2008 Mumbai attacks.
“It (terrorism) is a regional issue requiring a regional solution,” he maintained.
Alluding to the Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement, the Pakistani envoy said both sides had acknowledged that “dialogue is the only way forward to discuss all the outstanding issues.”
