I told Prime Minister Gilani that we have no interest in destabilising Pakistan nor do we harbour any ill intent towards Pakistan.
People say that we have broken the national consensus. I refuse to believe that we have broken the national consensus.
Manmohan Singh: Dialogue and engagement are the best way forward.
Excerpts from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in the Lok Sabha on July 29, 2009 during a debate on his recent foreign tours:
Madam Speaker,
As I have said many times before, we cannot wish away the fact that Pakistan is our neighbour. We should be good neighbours. If we live in peace, as good neighbours do, both of us can focus our energies on the many problems – our abject poverty that confront millions and millions of people in South Asia. If there is cooperation between us, and not conflict, vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that will create prosperity in both countries.
It is, therefore, in our vital interest to make sincere efforts to live in peace with Pakistan. But despite the best of intentions, we cannot move forward if terrorist attacks launched from Pakistani soil continue to kill and injure our citizens, here and abroad. That is the national position. I stand by it.
I have said time and again and I repeat it right now again: it is impossible for any government in India to work towards full normalisation of relations with Pakistan unless the Government of Pakistan fulfils, in letter and spirit, its commitment not to allow its territory to be used in any manner for terrorist activities against India.
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