Neighbourhood peace: India asks Pakistan to take action against terrorists

Patel says New Delhi is committed to resolving issues with Islamabad.

The Indian government on Monday expressed commitment to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through dialogue, reported the Press Trust of India news agency.

India has stipulated that this can only happen if Pakistan takes “credible action against terrorist groups and the related infrastructure on its soil,” according to a statement by Indian President Pratibha Patil while addressing a joint session of Parliament.

Patil said that the Indian government had been “pursuing a policy of promoting peace and cooperation in India’s immediate neighbourhood” in efforts to enable the country in maintaining national security and to accomplish its socio-economic goals.

She further asserted that the Kashmir issue has shown “considerable” improvement during the last year and maintained that her government had proven how acts of violence can be contained with a humane approach.

“My government has always been willing to enter into dialogue with any group willing to abjure the path of violence. It is encouraging that a number of organisations have come forward seeking resolution of their grievances in a peaceful manner,” she said.

The president also talked of improving ties with China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Patil mentioned the rapid growth of trade and economic ties with China, adding that it is significant to their bilateral relationship and for the global economy.  She also said that India has taken steps for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the internally-displaced persons of Sri Lanka.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2012.