FRONT PAGE | Thursday, October 29, 2009 | Email | Print | 
PM won’t give up: Seeks Pak friendship again
Khursheed Wani | Anantnag
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said separatist Kashmiri groups must abjure violence for holding an unconditional dialogue with the Government. For Pakistan to engage in friendship with India, he added, it must dismantle terrorist camps and infrastructure on its soil.
Singh promised a “positive response” to Pakistan if terrorists, even if non-state actors, were brought to book and their camps and infrastructure destroyed.
Singh was addressing a public meeting here at the inauguration of the 18-km rail stretch connecting the Qazigund railway station in south with north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
“We will press the Pakistan Government to curb the activities of elements engaged in terrorism in India. If they are non-state actors, it is Pakistan’s solemn duty to bring them to book, destroy their camps and eliminate their infrastructure. The perpetrators of terror must pay the heaviest penalty for their barbaric crimes against humanity,” the PM said.
Ruling out compromise with terrorists’ ideology to further political purposes, he said the real face of terror was for the people of Pakistan to see with their own eyes. Reciting an Urdu couplet, Singh said there had been moments in history when wrong decisions were taken and their effects felt for ages. “I appeal to the Government of Pakistan that the friendship which we have offered be carried forward. This is in the interests of both India and Pakistan,” he said.
Without naming separatists in Kashmir, he reiterated his Government’s resolve to have an “unconditional dialogue with whoever abjures violence”. He said, “We had discussions with different groups. We had a number of round-table conferences. All issues were discussed. We tried to give a voice to the demands of all sections of people. We have implemented a number of initiatives as a result of this process.”
Singh said his Government was willing to talk to “anyone with meaningful ideas” for promoting peace and development in Kashmir. “We want to carry all sections of people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
The PM said India involved Pakistan in talks from a position of strength and had the most fruitful and productive discussions ever with the Government of Pakistan during 2004-07, when militancy and violence began to decline. “Intensive discussions were held on all issues, including on a permanent resolution to the issue of J&K,” he said.
Citing bilateral trade and cross-LoC movement as landmark developments, he said the progress in India-Pak relations was repeatedly thwarted by acts of terrorism. “The terrorists want permanent enmity to prevail between the countries. They misused the name of a peaceful and benevolent religion,” he said.
Singh said the Pakistani people wanted better relations with India and maintained that efforts needed to be redoubled for bringing the two countries closer. “Trade facilities at the border are inadequate. There are no banking channels. Customs facilities need to be strengthened. There are no trade fairs. The lists of tradeable commodities need to be increased. Clearances for travel take time. Prisoners of India and Pakistan are languishing in each other’s jails even after completing their sentences,” he enumerated the grey areas.
The Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction over utilisation of Central funds in the State and requested the State Government to make more efforts for bringing about a change at ground level.
Email | Print | Rate:
|