Ready to talk to Pakistan: Manmohan Singh

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Jahangir Bukhari.

29 October, 2009

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Government of India is ready to talk to Pakistan if it dismantles the network of terror on its soil. He was addressing a public meeting before inaugurating the intra-Kashmir rail service in Anantnaag

PRIME MINISTER Manmohan Singh has said that the Government of India is ready to talk to Pakistan if it dismantles the network of terror on its land. He was addressing a public meeting before inaugurating the intra-Kashmir rail service in Anantnaag in south Kashmir.

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“We are ready to talk to Pakistan on all issues as we believe in peaceful negotiation of issues; however the terrorists are making this impossible due to their terror activities. Our request to Pakistan is to dismantle the entire terrorist network as this is their responsibility and put an end to this mess.”

The Prime Minister made it clear that there will be no compromise on terrorism in the country. “Every time when relations start improving between India and Pakistan, terrorists create some major trouble to halt this process. We know that the people in Pakistan are not in favour of violence in India as everybody, both in India and Pakistan want to live in peace and tranquility,” the Prime Minister added.

Referring to the changed security scenario in Kashmir,Singh, said that the situation is improving.

“We are ready to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir and even with those, who are ready to shun violence. We are ready to discuss with all shades of opinions in Kashmir for a solution to the problems in Kashmir. In 2004, I had said that our government is committed to having an unconditional dialogue with whoever abjures violence... I wish to say again today that we are willing to talk to anyone who has any meaningful ideas for promoting peace and development in Kashmir. We want to carry all sections of the people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir."

In a clear message to Pakistan, he said "I call upon the people and Government of Pakistan to show their sincerity and good faith. As I have said many times before, we will not waste time in responding to their call.

Putting it right across to the Pakistan administration to take responsibility for terrorist attacks by non-state actors, Singh said, "If they are non-state actors, it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book, to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure. The perpetrators of the acts of terror must pay a heavy penalty for their barbaric crimes against humanity."

The Prime Minister began his two-day visit to Kashmir to inaugurate the Ananatag- Qazigund rail link, the completion of which culminates the first intra-Kashmir rail service in Kashmir Valley. “I am sure that in the near future the railway will connect Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.”

“I am happy that the people of J&K have voted for peace, opening of peace routes and I respect the vision of the people of Kashmir. During the last four years the Government of India worked for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Opening the routes along the Line of control LoC to help the separated families to meet their relatives and also starting trade links with PoK through the LoC has helped to improve the situation in Kashmir,” he added.