India committed to peace, friendship with Pakistan but warns its patience has limits

Indian President PM say they remain committed to peace, but warn that their patience has limits.

NEW DELHI: As independence day celebrations in Pakistan were marked with knowledge of more violations along the Line of Control, India sent out cautious signals to Pakistan, that while they were not “slamming the doors” on talks and had an unfailing commitment to peace, they warned that their “patience has limits.”

Statements from the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, President Pranab Mukherjee though came after the Indian parliaments passed resolutions rejecting similar resolutions in Pakistan and deploring their neighbour for “unprovoked attacks”, NDTV reported.

In an exclusive interview on the programme “Frankly Speaking” with Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, Khurshid said that despite the recent situation, they could not just switch off an important relationship.

“There are things we don't like, things we are not happy with, but there are things that we still hope can happen and things that are good in the long run even if you look from the perspective of our national interest and, therefore, you don't slam all doors in one go, unless things are such there is no other option left.”

The minister also referred to the tit-for-tat move of passing resolutions in assemblies of Pakistan and India against each other.

“They started this game of saying something from the assemblies, and I think that wasn’t a very well thought out step,” adding that India has responded to that in kind.

Pressed that why does India not just suspend talks, Khurshid said that there was little alternative to talking. “People have had differences but they have always talked and where is the alternative to talking?”

The minister though said that they will also need to reexamine their approach to Pakistan, where the recently elected government, which had a stated policy during the election campaign of reaching out to India, had not done so.

‘Our patience has limits’

Meanwhile, the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in his televised address to the Indian nation on independence day, said that despite the country’s consistent efforts to build friendly relations with neighbours, there were tensions on her borders with Pakistan.

“Despite India's consistent efforts to build friendly relations with neighbours, there have been tensions on the border and repeated violations of the Ceasefire on the Line of Control, leading to tragic loss of lives.”

Mukherjee added that though India was committed to peace, its patience was limited and warned that it would take every step to protect its territorial integrity. “Our commitment to peace is unfailing but even our patience has limits. All steps necessary to ensure internal security and protect the territorial integrity of the nation will be taken.”

The Indian President also mentioned the vision and guidelines of self-rule and tolerance of Mahatma Gandhi. “For nearly seven decades now we have been masters of our destiny. This is then the moment to ask: are we heading in the right direction? Gandhiji's vision cannot be turned into reality if we spurn the very values that were compulsory to his cause.

India committed to peace, friendship

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his independence day greetings to his Pakistani counterpart said that India was committed to peace and friendship, Press Trust of India reported.

Singh also extended good wishes to Nawaz Sharif for building a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pakistan.

The beleagured prime minister who is set to face elections in 2014, told Sharif that India remains "committed to pursuing peace, friendship and cooperation" with Pakistan.