India's foreign secretary Nirupama Rao says the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is significant in relations with Pakistan.
While speaking in Boston, the top Indian diplomat said India is prepared to ''discuss all outstanding issues'' with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, to ensure stability in the South Asian region, the diplomat said in Boston.
"The issue of Jammu and Kashmir comes up in our relationship with Pakistan and we've said very clearly, very confidently and very transparently that we are prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan," India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said yesterday.
She stressed on India's readiness to hold discussions with Pakistan. She said Kashmir was an internal matter as far as India is concerned. Rao said resolving issues was essential so that countries in the region could focus on economic development.
She said India is "determined to persevere in our dialogue with Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues so that our region will be stable and so that the rationale of economic development in an atmosphere of peace, for all of South Asia, remains our steadfast goal."
Rao added that India wants to "persevere in our dialogue with Pakistan. It is not about segmenting this dialogue or taking away the complicated issues from it saying we are not ready to discuss it."
"That is certainly not our approach.We want to discuss all the outstanding issues and that will also include the issue of Jammu and Kashmir."
Later referring to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Rao said the issue is very much on India's agenda and closure is needed on it.
Rao was in Washington earlier to discuss US President Barrack Obama's upcoming visit to India in November.
According to reports in the Indian media, the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to meet in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
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