India committed to `close, good` ties with neighbours: Govt

New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) India is committed to "close and
good" relations with its immediate neighbours, Government said
Tuesday while highlighting its efforts to normalise ties with
Pakistan.
In 'The Report to the People 2009-10', it said
Government's expectation that Pakistan acts with purpose
against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack was conveyed on
several occasions, including at the highest level.
"India reiterated the need for Pakistan to fulfil the
assurances given by its leaders not to allow the use of
territory under Pakistan's control for terrorism directed
against India," it said.
The Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries have been
charged with the responsibility of working out the modalities
of restoring trust and confidence in India-Pakistan relations
and thus paving the way for a substantive dialogue on all
issues of mutual concern, the government said.
"India's foreign policy aims at a global order in which
India's overriding goals of rapid, sustained and inclusive
socio-economic development and poverty alleviation are
attained rapidly without any hindrance," it said.
To this end, India's foreign policy has combined firm
commitment to the core national values with dynamic adaptation
to changes in the international environment, it said while
talking about objectives and achievements of United
Progressive Alliance-II.
Under the category of 'building bridges', the report
said, "As a corollary to these objectives, India is committed
to close and good neighbourly relations with all countries in
its immediate and extended neighbourhood."
Commenting on country's stand at various global bodies,
it said India continued to press for reform of the United
Nations, in particular, through expansion of its Security
Council to make it more democratic and representative.
India continued to play a lead role in the Non-Aligned
Movement to maintain the movement's relevance and strengthen
its voice on international issues, it said.
The report also gave details of India's stand on crucial
international issue of climate change, saying it has remained
actively engaged in the multilateral negotiations to build a
rule-based, transparent and equitable climate change regime
that safeguards the interests of the developing countries and
supports their endeavour for poverty alleviation and
sustainable economic development.
Referring to many initiatives such as setting up of the
SAARC Development Fund, establishment of the SAARC Food Bank,
implementation of regional projects in telemedicine,
tele-education and agriculture and conclusion of the SAARC
Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, it said
India's commitment to its immediate neighbourhood has
revitalised SAARC. PTI