Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that he would like to say to the neighbours across the Line of Control that they should help in creating an environment in which people from both the sides can live in peace and harmony and work together.
He said, “Our issues with Pakistan are well known. Good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan are in the interest of both the countries, at the same time they are necessary for peace and harmony, stability and development our region.”
Dr Singh added that the relations between the two countries over the past one and a half years have been under the shadow of the terror attacks in Mumbai. “As you are aware, I met the Prime Minister of Pakistan in Thimpu last month. Both the countries accepted that there is a trust deficit between us. We also agreed that this distance between the two countries must be reduced.”
The PM further said, “Gilani Sahib has assured me that Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities against India.” According to him, meaningful talks between the two countries, which can lead to a resolution of old issues, are possible only when Pakistan doesn’t let its territory be used for acts of terror against India.