New Delhi, November 5
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today offered to resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, with Pakistan provided Islamabad ensured its territory is not used for cross-border terrorism.

“We are committed to make an honest and sincere effort to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan,” Dr Manmohan Singh said, adding: “The only condition is that the commitment made by President Pervez Musharraf in January to Prime Minister Vajpayee that territory of Pakistan will not be used for purpose of terrorism.”

Dr Manmohan Singh reiterated India's position vis-a-vis Pakistan during a question-answer session which followed his keynote address at the “Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative Conference” today.

Dr Manmohan Singh made it abundantly clear that if Pakistan honours its commitment in "letter and spirit", India has the necessary will to engage Pakistan in a constructive dialogue towards resolving all outstanding issues bilaterally which includes the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, in his speech on “India and the World: A Blueprint for Partnership and Growth,” the Prime Minister dwelt on a number of issues, ranging from the country’s foreign policy, economy and its polity.

He underlined India's eagerness to forge closer ties with its neighbours, advocated a policy of moderation in dealing with the growing threat of political extremism and reiterated India's stand on nuclear non-proliferation.

He pointed to the twin challenges of globalisation and terrorism which, he maintained, could be dealt with through dialogue and “confluence of civilisations.”

Stating that there are no military solutions to these challenges, the Prime Minister observed that it is widely accepted that open societies and open markets are the most natural and stable form of social and economic organisation.

In this context, he made a pointed reference to the rejection of “politics of exclusion and voting in favour of values of secularism and pluralism” as was witnessed in India.

The Prime Minister also unfolded his vision of closer and wider economic engagement between India and its Asian neighbours and the potential creation of an “Asian Economic Community.”

India, he said, wants a “neighbourhood of peace and shared prosperity” in which people, goods and services could travel with ease across borders.

“South Asia must regain its pre-eminence in the global economy as a sub-continent of creativity and enterprise,” he said, adding that his government would like to inject new energy into regional associations like SAARC.