Neighbours can't be changed, says Antony

May 28, 2011 |

IANS

Kannur (Kerala)

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Antony - in front of the Super Hercules aircraft at Hindan - Reuters_0.jpg.crop_display.jpg

For better relations with India, Pakistan will have to dismantle the terror camps on its soil, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Saturday pointing out that friends can be changed but not neighbours.

"India has a policy of having good relations with all neighbours. We can change friends but neighbours can't be changed," Antony said addressing the media after laying the foundation-stone of the Indian Coast Guard Academy near here.

"Even when we have problems with our neighbours like China on border disputes, we have good relations with them. With regard to Pakistan, the biggest problem in permanent good relations with them is there are 42 terrorists camps functioning there," he said.

"To have excellent relations with Pakistan, they have to first destroy those terrorist camps and without that it is practically impossible to have the best of relations with them.

"But nevertheless bilateral discussions are going ahead and we are having one such meeting shortly when the defence secretaries of the countries will meet," said Antony.

He also said that the US is giving a lot of arms and money to Pakistan to help flush out Afghan terrorists taking shelter in Pakistan. "But these are being used against us, which is not a nice gesture on the part of (the) US and we have raised this issue with them many times," added Antony.

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