New Delhi, August 24
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today inaugurated the second five-day Indian heads of missions (HOMs) conference, harping on Pakistan’s failure to deliver on its commitment not to permit the misuse of its soil for exporting terror to India.
“Following the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan has taken some steps under the pressure of evidence presented to them. However, we are still to see Pakistan take effective steps to end infiltration and dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism,” Krishna said, addressing more than 100 top Indian diplomats at the prestigious Vigyan Bhawan here. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to address the meeting tomorrow.
The conference, coming within three months of the UPA coming to power at the Centre for the second consecutive term, provides an opportunity to the government to give directions to the Indian ambassadors on major foreign policy objectives. The annual interaction is expected to ensure that the Indian envoys are well equipped to shoulder the complex responsibilities required to fulfill their responsibilities in a rapidly changing global environment.
Emphasising that development, inclusive economic growth and alleviation of poverty have to be India’s foremost strategic goals, Krishna asked the Indian envoys to safeguard national interests and enhance India’s influence in the world. “We should never forget that the aspirations of India’s people are the bedrock of India’s foreign policy.”
He spoke extensively on relations with Pakistan while talking about India’s immediate neighbourhood. The minister said India was of the firm view that a stable Pakistan at peace with itself and the region was a desirable goal. India wished to address its differences with Pakistan through dialogue.
On China, Krishna said there was space for both India and China to grow and meet their aspirations. China was now India’s largest trading partner and there was congruence in the views of the two countries on many global issues. However, there were outstanding bilateral issues that should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
Welcoming the HOMs, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the Indian diplomat today needed to introspect on how his/her practice of the art of diplomacy and the tools used for it, must adapt, or change, in response to the challenges in the world and the decentralisation of the international landscape.
