Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Pakistan to give up its attitude of using terror as an instrument of state policy as that was the only obstacle in normalising relations with its neighbour.
"India's message is that India seeks to normalise its relationship with Pakistan. But the only obstacle is that it should shed its old attitude of using terror as a state policy," he said at a post G-20 summit news conference in Pittsburgh on Friday.
Manmohan Singh also reiterated India's demand that Pakistan take action against those involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, saying that if Islamabad took proper action India would move the extra mile to normalise relations.
"We have supplied our material and evidence for them to carry out investigation. Although the tragedy took place in India, the conspiracy took place in Pakistan. Pakistan has admitted to this. We want them to bring to book the culprits involved in the November 26 attacks," he said.
Manmohan Singh said there was no change in India's stand on Pakistan since the Sharm-el-Sheikh talks with his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, a position he has made clear in the Indian parliament.
{{/usCountry}}Manmohan Singh said there was no change in India's stand on Pakistan since the Sharm-el-Sheikh talks with his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, a position he has made clear in the Indian parliament.
{{/usCountry}}"If you read my statements in parliament, I have explained the government's position and I think there is no change on this," he said when asked how he looked forward to moving ahead with relations with Pakistan.
India and Pakistan are neighbours and they have an obligation to move as neighbours, he said.
The prime minister's comments come ahead of a meeting in New York between External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart with India expected to focus on Islamabad's action against terror emanating from its soil.