'Pay attention to our neighbours', PM tells IFS

Highlighting the problem of terrorism faced by the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked diplomats to pay particular attention to India's relations with its neighbours, as well as the extended neighbourhood, in view of its security interests.

Highlighting the problem of terrorism faced by the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday asked diplomats to pay particular attention to India's relations with its neighbours, as well as the extended neighbourhood, in view of its security interests.

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Singh, who met the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) probationers in New Delhi, noted that the world was increasingly becoming inter-dependent and uncertain and in this context, the IFS had an important role to play in steering the country towards the socio-economic development.

He highlighted some of the contemporary issues requiring special focus which included the question of international terrorism and national security and said particular attention is required to be paid to relations with India's neighbours and extended neighbourhood, according to a statement issued by the PMO.

The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of maintaining productive relations with the world's major powers.

He noted that foreign policy should enable the release of resources to achieve India's developmental goals, the statement said.