India has said it desires to have normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan and issues, if any, between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally and peacefully in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence.
At the same time, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere, including by taking “credible, verifiable and irreversible” action to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross-border terrorism against India.
The minister was replying to a question in Rajya Sabha on India’s policy towards Pakistan, and its foreign policy initiatives to counter that country on the issue of terrorism.
He said India has consistently raised the issue of Pakistan’s continued support to cross-border terrorism in bilateral, regional and multilateral platforms.
As a result of India’s efforts, he said there is now enhanced concern globally on terrorism emanating from Pakistan, including the continuing activities of internationally designated terrorist entities and individuals like Jamaat-ud Dawa, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen etc.
