New Delhi:
The first task before the new UPA government is restoration of growth of economy reeling under the impact of global financial meltdown, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters on Friday.
"(The) first task is to restore the economy and its growth momentum. There is global recession and we have to protect our growth," Singh said soon after he was sworn in as Prime Minister for the second time.
He also hoped that Pakistan would cooperate with India on the issue of terrorism but ruled out any immediate plans of talks with the Pakistani leadership.
"It is my sincere hope that Pakistan will cooperate with India by not allowing its territory to be used for terrorism," he told reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan after being sworn in.
He was replying to a question on terrorism emanating from the Pakistani soil. "Terrorism remains a problem," he said.
Asked whether he would hold any discussions with the Pakistani leadership, Singh said "I have no immediate plan to talk to Pakistan leaders".
India has put on halt the composite dialogue with Pakistan since Mumbai attacks on November 26 last year for which it blamed terror groups based in Pakistan.
New Delhi has made it clear that the dialogue process can resume only when Islamabad takes credible and transparent action against those behind the attacks.
Pakistan has recently said that it was hoping that the dialogue would resume after the new government takes over in New Delhi.