New Delhi, August 25
Even as he described India as a victim of terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today declared New Delhi’s firm resolve to settle all differences with neighbouring countries through peaceful means and dialogue.

“India has a stake in the prosperity and stability of all our South Asian neighbours. We should strive to engage our neighbours constructively and resolve differences through peaceful means,” he said, addressing the conference of 112 Indian heads of missions (IHMs) here.

While he spoke at length about relations with neighbours in general, the PM chose not to directly mention Pakistan though it was widely expected that he would explain to the top Indian diplomats his ‘trust but verify’ policy vis-a-vis Islamabad.

India has been a victim of terrorism and it was essential that global terrorism was tackled with full vigour and resolve to ensure the continuing advancement of the country, he said. Emphasising the integral link of India’s foreign policy with domestic polices, particularly the economic policy, Manmohan Singh noted that the country’s foreign policy should address the challenges of mass poverty, ignorance and disease, which were the primary concern of the Indian state and polity.

He expressed happiness that despite the global economic slowdown, the Indian economy was still the second fastest growing economy in the world. However, all out efforts were necessary to put the economy back on a sustained high rate of growth if the challenges of poverty and disease were to be effectively addressed.

In this context, the PM identified three pillars of India’s global engagement — sustaining capital inflows to supplement the country’s investment efforts, the need to take advantage of rapid scientific and technological developments in the world which provide an opportunity for the country to leap frog its technological development and the need to ensure that the country’s growth was not constrained by scarcity of natural resources.

All these required active engagement by India in all multilateral forums, and in the shaping of the world order, whether in the field of trade, international finance or the international economy. Insularity was not an option, and India should play a role in the international arena in a manner that made a positive contribution to finding solutions to major global challenges, whether in the field of trade or climate change.