Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir:
The Prime Minister has begun his 2-day visit to Kashmir by offering peace talks both within the Valley, and across the border, to Pakistan.
While inaugurating the first train service in the Valley, the prime minister said he's willing to speak to separatists, and even to militants, if they surrender their arms. Dr Manmohan Singh said, "When I came to office in 2004, I had said that our Government is committed to having unconditional dialogue with whoever abjures violence... I wish to say again today that we are willing to talk to anyone who has any meaningful ideas for promoting peace and development in Kashmir. We want to carry all sections of the people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir."
(PM in Kashmir: Full text of speech)
He was equally direct in his message to Pakistan. "I call upon the people and Government of Pakistan to show their sincerity and good faith. As I have said many times before, we will not be found wanting in our response." Manmohan Singh also used the opportunity to defend the stand he took at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt in July: " I had also said that I was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan. I did so not because of weakness but from a position of strength." Dr Singh was accused by the BJP of surrendering critical ground to Pakistan in the joint-statement issued after his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
He also made it clear that Pakistan has to take responsibility for terrorist attacks by non-state actors: "If they are non-state actors, it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book, to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure. The perpetrators of the acts of terror must pay the heaviest penalty for their barbaric crimes against humanity."
The timing of his statement is seen as significant: the one-year anniversary of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai is just a month away, and India has repeatedly expressed its frustration over the lack of action and investigation by Pakistan.
While inaugurating the first train service in the Valley, the prime minister said he's willing to speak to separatists, and even to militants, if they surrender their arms. Dr Manmohan Singh said, "When I came to office in 2004, I had said that our Government is committed to having unconditional dialogue with whoever abjures violence... I wish to say again today that we are willing to talk to anyone who has any meaningful ideas for promoting peace and development in Kashmir. We want to carry all sections of the people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir."
(PM in Kashmir: Full text of speech)
He was equally direct in his message to Pakistan. "I call upon the people and Government of Pakistan to show their sincerity and good faith. As I have said many times before, we will not be found wanting in our response." Manmohan Singh also used the opportunity to defend the stand he took at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt in July: " I had also said that I was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan. I did so not because of weakness but from a position of strength." Dr Singh was accused by the BJP of surrendering critical ground to Pakistan in the joint-statement issued after his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
He also made it clear that Pakistan has to take responsibility for terrorist attacks by non-state actors: "If they are non-state actors, it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book, to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure. The perpetrators of the acts of terror must pay the heaviest penalty for their barbaric crimes against humanity."
The timing of his statement is seen as significant: the one-year anniversary of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai is just a month away, and India has repeatedly expressed its frustration over the lack of action and investigation by Pakistan.
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