Dialogue only way forward with Pak, says PM

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) Contending that dialogue was the
only way forward with Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Friday said the decision to hold foreign-secretary level
talks was a "calculated" one but there can be no meaningful
discussion till terror from there is ended.
Denying that he had sought mediation by Saudi Arabia, he
asserted in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of the Indian
Parliament, that all problems with Pakistan can be resolved
bilaterally if it adopted a "reasonable" attitude in dealing
with terror elements which target India.
"Our policy towards Pakistan is consistent, cautious and
realistic," Singh said replying to the debate on the Motion of
Thanks to the President's address to Parliament during which
he lambasted the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for
spreading disinformation.
He specifically rebutted charges levelled by senior BJP
leader L K Advani that the government was talking to Pakistan
under US pressure.
Underlining the need for keeping communication channels
with Pakistan from breaking down, he said the scope of any
"miscalculation can only worsen in an environment of no
contact."
To buttress his point, he said the US and the erstwhile
Soviet Union, even at the height of the Cold War had kept
communication channels open.
Referring to the recent Foreign Secretary-level talks,
Singh said it was not a "sudden" decision but a "calculated"
one. He pointed out that he had earlier offered to resume
talks on humanitarian issues. MORE PTI