We'll talk, act on terror: Manmohan Singh to Pakistan
Even as he counted the visits by the heads of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council to India this year as a "tribute" to the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that Delhi was open to discussing all issues with Pakistan to improve relations with it. HT reports.
Even as he counted the visits by the heads of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council to India this year as a "tribute" to the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that Delhi was open to discussing all issues with Pakistan to improve relations with it.
But, he added, Pakistan must act against the terror machinery operating within its territory.
"We are willing to discuss all outstanding issues (with Pakistan) provided the terror machine (there) is brought under control," Singh said.
Putting peace and normalcy at the heart of any attempt to realise the potential of South Asia, he said this region had "enormous capacity" to grow at a faster pace than it was doing, but only if peace prevailed.
Responding to questions at the HT Leadership Summit, Singh detailed the steps taken by his government to "have the best possible relations with all the P5 countries".
The P5 stands for the permanent member-countries of the Security Council: the US, the UK, Russia, France and China.
"You will have the unique example this year where the heads of all P5 countries... will be visiting us in a single year," he said.
"And that is a tribute to India that India enjoys goodwill as we have never enjoyed before," Singh declared.
British Prime Minister Cameron was in India in July-end, US President Barack Obama wrapped up his visit this month and New Delhi is preparing to host French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as well as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao before the end of the year.
During his visits abroad, the prime minister said he came across greater admiration for India.
"People (around the world) marvel at the fact that here is a country of 1.2 billion people with all religions represented that is committed to the rule of law, human freedom and still has managed a growth rate of 9 to 10 per cent. The world wants India to succeed," he said.
He also mentioned significant improvement in India's relations with Southeast Asia and the considerable strengthening of ties with countries in West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.