Zeenews Bureau
Pittsburgh: Ahead of Indo-Pak Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said India seeks to normalise relationship with Pakistan but it should shed its mindset of using terror as an instrument of state policy against New Delhi and take action against those involved in the Mumbai terror attacks.
He made it clear that there was no change in India`s stand on Pakistan since the Sharm-el-Sheikh talks with his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, a position he has made clear in Parliament.
"India`s message is that India seeks to normalise its relationship with Pakistan. But the only obstacle is that it should shed its old attitude of using terror as a state policy," Singh told a press conference winding up his two-day trip to Pittsburgh where he attended the G20 Summit.
"We have supplied our material and evidence for them to carry out investigation. Although the tragedy took place in India, the conspiracy took place in Pakistan. Pakistan has admitted to this. We want them to bring to book the culprits involved in the November 26 attacks," he said.
Singh recollected that he has already said that if Pakistan took proper action India would move the extra mile to normalise relations.
The Prime Minister`s comments come as Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan are set to meet in New York during which Islamabad`s action against terror emanating from its soil will be discussed.
Singh said India and Pakistan are neighbours and they have an obligation to move as neighbours.
Asked how he looked forward to moving ahead with the relations with Pakistan after the Sharm-el-Sheikh episode, Singh said, "If you read my statements in Parliament, I have explained the government`s position and I think there is no change on this."
‘India`s Afghan role appreciated’
Asked about a report by US General Stean McChrystal that India was doing good work in Afghanistan but it could lead to instability in the region, he said: "I think to my knowledge there US and other European powers are appreciative of the role played by India in Afghanistan.
"We have not supplied any arms, we are also helping them in construction and financing of projects in power health and education sectors. Untill today we have committed USD 1.5 billion in Afghanistan.
"Not only people of Afghanistan appreciate but Europe and American leaders are of the same view. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, I agree that we have to sail in these difficult waters," he said.
‘UN NPT resolution not directed at India’
US President Barack Obama has assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the UNSC
resolution asking non-NPT states to sign the non-proliferation
treaty is not directed against India and that his country
would fulfill all obligations with regard to the nuclear deal.
"We have been assured (by the US) that this is not a
resolution directed against India and that the US commitment
to carry out its obligations under the civil nuclear
agreement, which we have signed with the United States,
remains undiluted," Singh told reporters wrapping up his two-day
visit here to attend the G-20 Summit.
"That (commitment on nuclear deal) we have been
assured officially by the United States Government," the PM said.
He was replying to a question about the UNSC
resolution asking all non-NPT states, including India, to sign
the treaty.
Asked whether he had any bilateral meetings with
Obama, the Prime Minister said the US President did not have
bilateral meetings with any leaders because of paucity of
time.
"But last night I met him and today I was seated to
his right during lunch. I discussed some important issues with
him," Singh said.
‘Iran should fulfill N-obligations’
Prime Minister Singh said Iran should fulfill all its obligations as a
signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, while
it also enjoys rights under that agreement.
Answering a question on US, Britain and France
threatening sanctions against Iran for secretly pursuing
uranium enrichment facility, Singh told a press conference
here that Iran issue did not come up during the G-20 Summit.
"Our position is that Iran as a signatory to the NPT
has all rights to peaceful use of atomic energy and also
should carry out its obligations," he said.
`Rich nations must help developing world in climate fight’
Prime Minister Singh further said developed nations would need to provide funding and affordable technology to developing nations in return for any commitments to fight climate change.
"There is a broad, vague agreement that any agreement in which developing countries are also required to take any national action will have to be accompanied by credible action on the part of developed countries," he said.
"But other than expressing a pious wish with regard to the success of the framework convention meeting in Copenhagen, the Group of 20 I think did not go into the mechanics of these things," he said declining to predict whether a climate deal would be reached in Copenhagen by the December deadline.
"I`m not an astrologer," Singh added, noting that while the broad outlines of the next climate agreement were already well-known, the summit here only took up global warming in broad terms.
The summit agreed to gradually phase out government subsidies for fossil fuels but did not set a timeline on the issue.
‘NRIs welcome in India`s development’
Prime Minister Singh today said the NRI community in the United States and world
over are welcome to invest in the Indian economy.
"NRIs are very welcome to contribute to India`s
development through bank deposits, through participation in
capital market, both direct and portfolio investment," Singh
said.
"We welcome participation in processes in economic
development of India," he added.
PM leaves for Geneva
Prime Minister Singh had left for Geneva after attending the G20 Summit here.
After a brief stay in Geneva, Singh will leave for Delhi Saturday to reach there Sunday morning.
Prime Minister Singh, who turned 77 Saturday, meanwhile said he can never repay the debt of being given an opportunity by the people of
India to serve them.
"I am grateful to the people of India that they have
given me the unique opportunity to serve them. I complete the
first five years, they have given me the opportunity, they
have renewed their confidence in me. This is something, I
think is a debt, which I never repay," Singh said.
