World

India asks Pakistan to 'grasp hand of friendship'

India ready to discuss issues, provided Pakistan stops use of its territory for terrorist activities says PM Singh.

Ppi February 24, 2011

NEW DEHLI: With the dialogue process set to be resumed, India on Thursday asked Pakistan to “grasp its hand of friendship” and insisted that all issues can be resolved if it stopped use of its territory for anti-India activities.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, replying to the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha on the President's Address, said there were "hopeful signs" and an atmosphere in which negotiations between the two countries can go forward.

"I sincerely hope and believe that the new ruling classes of Pakistan would grasp the hands of our friendship and recognize that whatever are our differences, terror as an instrument of State policy, is something that no civilised society ought to use," he said.

Asserting that dialogue was the only way to resolve differences, Dr Singh noted that Foreign Secretaries of the two countries had agreed to resume the dialogue process after a bilateral meeting in Thimphu last month.

"We are willing to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan provided Pakistan gives up its practice of allowing the use of its territory for terrorist activities against India," he said.

Dr Singh said full development of the Indian sub-continent could not be achieved unless India and Pakistan normalise the relations between them. "I have been working for that objective since 2005."

Some progress had been made which was followed by a lapse, he said in an obvious reference to 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks after which India had suspended the composite dialogue process with Pakistan.

"Some progress was made, but then there was a lapse and the terrorist elements, would of course, not allow the process of normalization to come into effect," Dr Singh said. He felt he was convinced and believed that there was growing conviction in Pakistan's thinking population as well that terrorism was not an instrument, which can be used by any civilized government as an instrument of state policy.

COMMENTS (27)

LOL | 13 years ago | Reply Some of the Pakistani responses on here are very disappointing. India really has nothing to gain from causing trouble in Pakistan so please stop kidding yourself about Balochistan. Pakistan has enough problems of its own and does not need any help from India. India only wants Pakistan to do well. Imagine if Pakistan was like Canada (the analog being India like the US). We could both be prosperous countries and let our jugdha be reserved for the cricket pitch. One can hope.

Sohail | 13 years ago | Reply True, in our quest of fighting for kashmir, we might loose baloch & punjab. Kashmir was never ours in the first place, but we should certainly not end up loosing what already is ours. Peace!

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Nil | 13 years ago | Reply @Modasar: Forget Kashmir & try to save balochistan.

satyram | 13 years ago | Reply As far as Kashmir dispute is concerned, if this is the limit of spreding hate by people of pakistan, let me tell you all Pakistani friends one thing very clearly that The land of Kashmir is ours and the people of Kashmir are yours (because ours people they have already thrown out from kashmir). So, you are free to take all your people back from Kashmir .

M J Akbar | 13 years ago | Reply If India had to give Kasmir tp Pak,then Issue would have been resolved.I think Pak readers still in doubt that India will give its half Kashmir to Pak.Lets see....

Ravee | 13 years ago | Reply Rather than arguing, why dont u just grasp the hand of frenship. See the result

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply No country in history, as powerful, as economically vibrant and as stable as India is now, has given up a piece of Neighbouring Territory under its control to any other lesser power(in every sense of the word, in fact failing state is the right word) like Pakistan is now. Those who are asking for Kashmir, let me remind you what your obsession with India and Kashmir has got you- Destruction and Violence. If you still harping about the same issues, then you are fools, and intellectually incapable of learning from History and are doomed to fail as a nation(not too far away, one thinks).

Krishna | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. Prime Minister, today's Pakistan is full of hate. You can't make peace in the current situation. Build up your defenses and intelligence services. Watch out for more Mumbai like carnage.

sandy | 13 years ago | Reply Guys, this is someone who is offering his hand of friendship, and a different vision for South Asia, again and again and again, against the advice of several Indians who see no hope left in Pakistan any more. You may spurn this opportunity but a time may come in the future when you regret that you did so.

Modasar | 13 years ago | Reply First give us kashmir than friendship Mr. Singh!

Saad Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply I think they want Veena... unhonay Veena ka haath manga hai... lol

John | 13 years ago | Reply I was saying before, no Govt of India has come this far with Pakistan and the ball is in PAK court. Otherwise India will be marching forward without Pakistan. Times have changed. Time for PAK Govt to acknowledge what is wrong and move forward. The M.M.Singh Govt came clearly " that there is no redrawing of the borders" . Hint in this is the present LOC in Kashmir being the final boundary. PAK has to accept it move forward. Anything else is pipe dream on PAK side. That is the reality of ground. Not sure how the subsequent Govt in India will look at the issue. China is not going to interfere with PAK on this issue and so is USA given their relationship with India. Hope it all works out.

Jason | 13 years ago | Reply Singh is just "kite flying". He does not have a mandate to do anything else.

KT | 13 years ago | Reply @Sallb: It does come with a SLAP. A slap from BALOCHISTAN =)

KT | 13 years ago | Reply @Asad Durrani: I second what he is saying. There is no comparison between India and Pakistan. India should let pakistan toil in the mud. He can only get his hands dirty by offering a hand to the pakis. No one wants talks with these radicals. The world should leave these barbarians on their own to go back to the stone age. Maybe we can conduct moon research trials in pakistan. I cant see pakistan of any other use.

KT | 13 years ago | Reply @Salman: Twisted mind stuck in conspiracy theories.

KB | 13 years ago | Reply Dear writer, Look at how your citizens are responding. Hate has blinded Pakistan. Hate will not stop until it will burn from within.

Ankit | 13 years ago | Reply @Bilal : Thanks for reciprocating but one lone voice among Pakistanis @ Jerry @Babloo You are right. Talking to Pakistan is like talking to a wall. We have to remember that we are not talking of normal people here- people who are over-sentimental and selfish to the core. Selfish- because they just don't seem to care about other Pakistanis who are struggling or minorities or women. Governments going all the way back to 1947 has been dysfunctional. Their heroes of leaders were Lilliputians in mind and morals. They seem to be out of touch with reality in making all kinds of demands of others and expecting equal treatment and respect for their law and sovereignty when they have none of both and do not know how to exercise independence. Majority of Pakistanis are worse off then they were under British rule. They have demonstrated through their actions that the whole concept of Pakistan was wrong as well as the fact that they did not really deserve independence. There is a reason why the revolution of the type Moroccans or Libyans are leading will not happen in Pakistan because the people are too self absorbed and do not know the concept of sacrifice. They understand suicide deaths as sacrifice when in reality they are doing it for themselves or their families or their misplaced sense of belief. Friendship with Pakistan??? It will never happen unless Pakistanis undergo a major transformation which will never happen if left to themselves. Let me tell you a story of a black scorpion and a green frog. One side of the river bank was flooded and scorpion did not know how to get to the other side. It begged the frog to carry it on its back. The frog had its doubts and did not trust very much the scorpion but the scorpion begged and said to the frog that it is not going to harm someone who will be saving his life. Frog reluctantly agrees and midway in the river, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog's muscles start failing. It asks the scorpion why he did that when he ws trying to help him and both needed to reach the other side. The scorpion replied that it was helpless because to sting is its second nature. Pakistan will continue to sting India- Kashmir or not. It will keep finding new reasons. The reality is that there is too much hatred inside its small heart and equally small minds.

Haseeb | 13 years ago | Reply provided Pakistan gives up its practice of allowing the use of its territory for terrorist activities against India,” It has become a cliche now.

Bilal Javed | 13 years ago | Reply As a Pakistani I would accept this offer and work towards solving our issues. Please say no to hate and war .....

Sallb | 13 years ago | Reply Does that hand come with Kashmir?

Babloo | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Manmohan says "“I sincerely hope and believe that the new ruling classes of Pakistan would grasp the hands of our friendship and recognize that whatever are our differences, terror as an instrument of State policy, is something that no civilised society ought to use,” he said. India should deal with the reality that Pakistan is today and not what it would like Pakistan to be like. Any engagement can only spawn trouble for India.

Ali2 | 13 years ago | Reply Until our army and ISI are in charge it will be difficult for the civillian leadership of Pakistan to make firends again with India. Unfortunately the army is India centric still, despite the fact all our threats are actually internal. Though i wish both leaders well and hope we can have normal relations with India again.

Roflcopter | 13 years ago | Reply If India didn't have a hook attached to its hand then Pakistan would surely have grasped it!

Asad Durrani | 13 years ago | Reply Same Stupid Statement. his RAW is involved in Terrorists Attacks in Balochistan and he accepted that he would Look into the complaint filed by Pakistan in Sharam-ul-Sheikh. I think he msut go and take a Hike. It's not upto him that he decided when he wants talks. I think Pakistan should Pull out of all talks with India. No Negociation required. And He must nab RSS Hindu Terror within his Own country first Before Issuing Baashans. Those miscreants are putting bombs with In India blaming on Muslims. We can never be friends.Its Unfortunate but true. Pakistan should leave him alone so that he could sing Terror song alone without Music.

Salman | 13 years ago | Reply FREE KASHMIR FIRST! Why india is extending hand now? Because american "war on terror" drama is coming to end soon and there will be no more support for RAW from "Raymond" types in Pakistan.

jerry | 13 years ago | Reply Mr PM Manmohan Singh is singing DAY DREAMING ,If history was any evidence ,Prepare India for one more Act of terrorism from NON STATE ACTORS across the border. Friendship comes with cost,India may be ready for that ,NOT PAKISTAN. Pakistan Leaders as well as majority of population is undergoing seachange of distructive attitude. No One is talking Economy ,Human values ,Freedom ,Democracy ,But everyone is talking about RAYMOND. They don't have their priority set for the nation, How you are going to talk to them about friendship???? Their FO is directly ruled by Army. So Mr PM Stop Day dreaming. Spend your time on otherwise productive issues at home.

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