Confident that Jammu and Kashmir was "turning the corner" and entering "a new chapter" in the peace process, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday hoped that the government's offer of dialogue would be reciprocated in the spirit it has been made.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar just before winding up his two-day visit to Kashmir, he said the government was committed to work for peaceful resolution of all problems facing the state, both in internal and external dimensions.
He said India was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan provided it creates an "atmosphere in which negotiations can be fruitful" but made it clear that it will "not act under pressure of anybody".
Singh said there there is "no pre-condition" for talks with Pakistan but the "practical aspect" is that there will be no headway till Pakistan brings under "effective control" the terror elements in that country.
"We are ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan. We sincerely hope Pakistan will create an atmosphere in which negotiations can be fruitful," he said.
Asked whether his statement on Wednesday that Pakistan should destroy terror camps will be a pre-condition for talks, Singh said "it is not a pre-condition. But there is a practical way of looking at (things). Negotiations can't make headway unless Pakistan brings under effective control these terror groups."
He said India is a democracy and if day and day out terrorists continue attack and take the precious lives "we cannot create an atmosphere for negotiations". "Negotiations can't make headway unless Pakistan brings under control the terrorist elements which aid and abet terrorism in India," he said.
He also made it clear that Pakistan's actions against those believed to be behind the Mumbai attacks were not satisfactory and expressed the hope that Islamabad would bring all the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice.
Singh described as "far fetched and far from truth" Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik's charge that India was abetting violence in Balochistan and funding Taliban. "I have said earlier that India had no role in Balochistan and those who level these charges, the senior minister in Pakistan, know jolly well that there is no truth in it. Nothing can be far fetched and far from truth," he said adding in fact it was India which was a victim of terrorism aided and abetted from Pakistani soil. Both (charges on) Balochistan and Taliban are totally false," he said.
To a question whether India was satisfied with Pakistan's steps on Mumbai attacks, he said "obviously we are not satisfied with action taken by Pakistan. We sincerely hope that Pakistan government will bring all the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice."
In his opening statement, he expressed the hope that his appeal for dialogue with all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be reciprocated in the spirit in which he had made the appeal on Wednesday.
To a question about Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Farooq justifying the use of gun, Singh said he did not want to ready too much into what was said in anger. "I hope all those who believe in the good of Jammu and Kashmir will respond favourably to my appeal for dialogue. We are willing to engage in discussions with every group and all those who want abjure violence," he said.
The Prime Minister firmly told the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to keep its hands off Kashmir, adding that it had no locus standi to comment on the region that was essentially an internal matter of India.
The 56-nation grouping OIC had met in New York this month and issued a statement saying it supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the "realisation of their legitimate right of self determination in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people."
The statement also commented on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the death of two women in mysterious circumstances in Shopian recently. The government has already given a strong rejoinder, condemning and rejecting the OIC statement.
PM Hopes, Separatists In Kashmir Will Respond Positively
Confident that Jammu and Kashmir was "turning the corner" and entering "a new chapter" in the peace process, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday hoped that the government's offer of dialogue would be reciprocated in the spirit it has been made.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar just before winding up his two-day visit to Kashmir, he said the government was committed to work for peaceful resolution of all problems facing the state, both in internal and external dimensions.
He said India was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan provided it creates an "atmosphere in which negotiations can be fruitful" but made it clear that it will "not act under pressure of anybody".
Singh said there there is "no pre-condition" for talks with Pakistan but the "practical aspect" is that there will be no headway till Pakistan brings under "effective control" the terror elements in that country.
"We are ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan. We sincerely hope Pakistan will create an atmosphere in which negotiations can be fruitful," he said. PTI
