Pak must abjure terrorism, come for talks: Manmohan

Ajay Kaul
Washington, Nov 24 (PTI) Voicing a desire for a new
chapter in the history of the sub-continent, Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh says Pakistan must break with the
past, abjure terrorism and come for talks with India in "good
faith and sincerity" to resolve outstanding issues.
On the eve of summit talks with US President Barack
Obama, Singh with Mumbai attack in mind also slammed a
"selective" approach to terrorism, tackling it in one place
while ignoring it in others.
Addressing the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) -- an
American non-profit and non-partisan membership organisation,
Singh said India and the US have "strong compulsions" to work
towards an open and liberal regime for transfers of goods,
services, investments and technology.
"This will stimulate recovery in the global economy,
create jobs and spur growth in our own economies," Singh said
underscoring that the immediate challenge before the global
community is to bring the world to full recovery from the
global economic and financial crisis.
Touching upon Indo-Pak ties, Singh said the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has "invested heavily"
over the past few years in normalising relations with
Pakistan.
The prime minister said India sought a South Asia of
peace, friendship and prosperity where its borders will be
energised by the flow of people, goods and ideas.
"For this to happen, Pakistan must make a break with the
past, abjure terrorism and come to the table with good faith
and sincerity. It is my solemn hope that India and Pakistan
can together move forward to write a new chapter in the
history of the sub-continent," he added.
"We made considerable progress on the road to a durable
and permanent settlement of all outstanding issues. I have
said that we are ready to pick up the threads of the dialogue,
including on issues related to Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
With just two days left for the first anniversary of
Mumbai carnage, Singh said the trauma of that attack continued
to "haunt us."
"Terrorism poses an existential threat to the civilised
world and must be defeated. We should not harbour any
illusions that a selective approach to terrorism, tackling it
in one place while ignoring it in others, will work," he
added.
Touching upon the situation in Afghanistan, the prime
minister said the evolution of that country as a stable and
moderate nation is "so vital" for the region and the world.
At the same time, Singh made it clear that India did not
see Afghanistan as a "theatre of influence" observing that
"our interest is in building a region of peace and stability."
On governance of the political and security order, Singh
pressed for a reform of the United Nations and its Security
Council. India has staked a claim for a permanent seat in the
Security Council.
Referring to Obama committing the US to the goal of a
world free of nuclear weapons, Singh said India's security
will be enhanced, not diminished, by the complete elimination
of nuclear weapons the world over.
With just a fortnight left for the start of the crucial
UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Singh said the
pre-summit negotiations are proving more difficult than India
would have liked.
"It is important for all countries to make every effort
to contribute to a successful outcome at Copenhagen," Singh
said, noting how there was disagreement among industrialised
countries and between industrialised and developing countries.
On India's part, Singh said it was determined to be part
of the solution to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions
that cause global warming.
"We are willing to work towards any solution that does
not compromise the right of developing countries to develop
and lift their population out of poverty," he added.
On bilateral issues, Singh said maritime security,
including countering piracy and protecting sea lanes of
communication in the Indian Ocean and beyond, was an area
where India and the US should expand cooperation.
Appreciating the cooperation that India has received
from the US in the area of counter-terrorism in the recent
past, Singh said the two countries could do much more together
on a sustained basis to combat increasingly sophisticated
terror networks, transnational criminal groups and cyber
terrorism. PTI AKK
ANU