PAKISTAN SHOULD COMPLETELY STOP SUPPORT
TO TERROR TO BOOST TIES
Indo-Pak
ties can “truly scale great heights” if Pakistan removes the “self-imposed”
obstacle of terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he asked Islamabad
to play its part by putting a complete stop to any kind of support to terrorism
— “whether state or non—state”.“In my view, our ties can truly scale great
heights once Pakistan removes the self-imposed obstacle of terrorism in the
path of our relationship.
“We are
ready to take the first step, but the path to peace is a two-way street,” Mr.
Modi told The Wall Street Journal, in comments posted on its website on Friday.He
said he has always maintained that instead of fighting with each other, India
and Pakistan should together fight against poverty.“Naturally we expect
Pakistan to play its part,” he said.“But, there can be no compromise on
terrorism. It can only be stopped if all support to terrorism, whether state or
non-state, is completely stopped.“Pakistan’s failure to take effective action
in punishing the perpetrators of terror attacks limits the forward progress in
our ties,” said the Prime Minister.Mr. Modi said his government’s proactive
agenda for a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood began from the very first
day of his government.“I have said that the future that I wish for India is the
future that I dream for my neighbours. My visit to Lahore was a clear
projection of this belief,” he said.
Ruling out
a change in India’s decades-old policy of non-alignment, Mr. Modi said that
despite the border dispute, there have been no clashes with China, pointing out
the “new way” in today’s “interdependent world” unlike the last century.“There
is no reason to change India’s non-alignment policy that is a legacy and has
been in place. But this is true that today, unlike before, India is not
standing in a corner. It is the world’s largest democracy and fastest growing
economy.“We are acutely conscious of our responsibilities both in the region
and internationally,” he said.Mr. Modi’s significant comment on India’s
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which many now also prefer to call as strategic
autonomy, came in response to a question on China’s assertiveness.
“The U.S.
is very keen on India, the rising power that India is, to be part of, if not an
alliance, then at least a grouping that can stand up to some extent to China.
Where do you see India taking a position on the global stage?” he was asked.“We
don’t have any fighting with China today. We have a boundary dispute, but there
is no tension or clashes.People-to-people contacts have increased. Trade has increased.Chinese
investment in India has gone up. India’s investment in China has grown,” Mr.
Modi said.“Despite the border dispute, there haven’t been any clashes. Not one
bullet has been fired in 30 years,” he said.
Prof. John Kurakar
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