After India and Pakistan resumed dialogue with the foreign secretary level talks earlier this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said it was imperative for India to become “more engaged” with countries in the neighbourhood.

Singh also called for strengthening of democracy in the region. The prime minister said he was convinced that this would restore to South Asia its status as a unique place and place of great importance in the community of nations.

“The countries of our region can and must help each other grapple with change and the challenge of our times,” Singh told the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

“We must create and sustain mutually beneficial relations with all our neighbours and with all the great nations of the world,” he said, defending the importance Delhi had given to resuming talks with Islamabad as well the deepening of ties with the United States.

India and Pakistan had put their peace process back on track after foreign secretary-level talks were held in New Delhi on Thursday.

In addition to finalising a safety pact to limit the risk of accidental nuclear conflict, the two countries had also agreed to set up a six-member panel on counter-terrorism and to the early start of a truck service across the Line of Control (LoC).

The Prime Minister said: “I believe the people of South Asia have a shared destiny, just as we have a shared past. We must learn to live with each other, respecting the inherent diversity of our region, and work together in improving the lives of our people.”