New Delhi, Apr 21: India today said that it was upto Pakistan now to respond to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's fresh friendship offer by giving "atleast a guarantee" that it would not support cross-border terrorism. "It is for Pakistan now to act and at least give a guarantee that it will not support cross-border terrorism at all," Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said.

"When we are talking of friendship, it is important that there is a complete halt to the gun culture," the minister said in a private TV channel programme.

"Our Prime Minister has already made it clear that if Pakistan responds favourably and stops cross-border terrorism, we are willing to send a foreign ministry official to Islamabad to discuss about the agenda for talks," he said.
He said that the Pakistan Prime Minister welcoming the Indian offer "gives hope that an atmosphere conducive for talks can be created.”

India, he said, has always wanted friendly relations with Pakistan.
Singh said that twice in the past the initiative for friendly relations with Pakistan has been taken by India while referring to Vajpayee's trip to Lahore and inviting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for talks at Agra but the outcome were Kargil and the attack on Parliament.

"Still, we have taken the initiative for the third time. This shows our seriousness," he said.

Bureau Report