New Delhi, December 31
In a conscious effort to reach out to the people of Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said if Islamabad sheds its “anti-India mentality” and takes “effective steps to stop cross-border terrorism,” “you will find India willing to walk more than half of the distance to work closely” for resolving any issue, including the contentious issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue.

In his musings on the new year wherein he sought to establish a rapport with the people of Pakistan, especially with the like-minded persons in the ruling establishment, the Prime Minister has observed: “Together, let us leave the past of futile hostilities and embrace a future free of tension and full of mutually beneficial possibilities. The common enemies that both countries face are poverty, illiteracy, disease and unemployment. Terrorism and extremism cannot solve any of these problems”.

“Therefore, let us join hands to fight these enemies and, along with other countries in South Asia, make our region a land of peace, plenty and progress. This is the challenge of the new year and of the new century. Let us accept it in a spirit of cooperation” Mr Vajpayee said.

Asking Pakistan to make the right choice, Mr Vajpayee reminded Islamabad that its sincerity to fight terrorism would be determined by its response to Indian demands.

“However, if the intention of Pakistan’s leadership is to continue to promote, or condone, cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as a matter of state policy, then the international community will judge this position to be opportunistic. It will conclude that Pakistan, far from being a part of solution, will remain a part of the problem itself,” Mr Vajpayee said.

Hoping that the international community would bring the requisite pressure on Pakistan to give up its double standards on terrorism, the Prime Minister asked his countrymen to remain prepared for “any eventuality”.

“I would like you to realise that the battle against terrorism will necessarily be a long one. One should neither expect a quick and painless victory nor despair if more terrorist strikes take place,” Mr Vajpayee said.

The Prime Minister gave another message in which he has asked the countrymen to take a new-year resolve that “We shall triumph against terrorism”.