RIYADH (Agencies) – India is willing to walk the “extra mile” to open a new chapter in relations with Pakistan but it must act decisively against terrorism, Prime Minister Manm-ohan Singh asserted Monday.
Addressing the Majlis Al-Shura or the Saudi Consultative Council here, he said India seeks a cooperative relationship with Pakistan for permanent peace as both countries are bound together by a shared future.
“We seek cooperative relations with Pakistan. Our objective is a permanent peace because we recognise that we are bound together by a shared future. If there is cooperation between India and Pakistan, vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that will create prosperity in both countries and in South Asia as a whole,” he said.
But to realise this vision, the Prime Minister asserted, Pakistan must “act decisively against terrorism”.
“If Pakistan cooperates with India, there is no problem that we cannot solve and we can walk the extra mile to open a new chapter in relations between our two countries,” Manmohan, on the third and final day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday, said.
Noting that both India and Saudi Arabia are threatened by extremism and violence, the Indian PM said, “History teaches us that the scourge of terrorism must be confronted with determination and united effort. Nowhere is this challenge greater than in Afghanistan,” he said.
“The people of Afghanistan have suffered for too long. They deserve an atmosphere of peace and the opportunity to pursue a life of dignity and hope,” he said.
The Indian PM asked the international community to support all sections of Afghan society who wish to work towards the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern, stable and sovereign nation. “No sanctuary should be given to those who promote terror, violence or instability in the country.”
He said India wishes to live in peace and friendship with its neighbours and that he believed that all countries of South Asia should work to realise a common vision of peace and inclusive development for the region.
Addressing the members of the legislative body that advises the Saudi King, Manmohan said Islam is an integral part of India’s nationhood and ethos and of the rich tapestry of its culture. “India has made significant contributions to all aspects of Islamic civilisation. Centres of Islamic learning in India have made a seminal contribution to Islamic and Arab studies,” he said.
“Our 160 million Muslims are contributing to our nation building efforts and have excelled in all walks of life. We are proud of our composite culture…,” he said.
Returning to the issue of bilateral ties, he said India considers Saudi Arabia as a “pillar of stability” in the Gulf region and expressed confidence that the two countries could forge a “new partnership”.
He reaffirmed IndiaÂ’s support for the struggle of Palestinian people and its backing for the Arab Peace Initiative to ensure peace and stability in the region.
“We applaud and support the Arab Peace Initiative,” Singh said referring to the peace plan first proposed in 2002 at the Beirut Summit of the Arab League which attempts to normalise Arab-Israeli ties in exchange of a complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee crisis.
The peace process in the Middle East was also high on the agenda of the meeting between Singh and Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday night.
The Indian Premier also said India and Saudi Arabia should work together to promote dialogue and peaceful co-existence among nations, religions and societies.
Welcoming the Indian Prime Minister, Speaker of the Majlis-Al Shura Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh paid tribute to the stand taken by India towards international issues and the support it has extended to the Arab Peace Initiative to reduce tension in West Asia.
Speaking on board Air India One in which he and his delegation were returning to India after his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he had asked Saudi ArabiaÂ’s King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to use his good offices to persuade Pakistan to stop abetting terrorists on its soil.
“I know Saudi Arabia has close relations with Pakistan,” he said.
“I did discuss Indo-Pakistan relations on a one-to-one basis with His Majesty (King Abdullah). I explained to him the role terrorism – aided, abetted and inspired by Pakistan is playing in our country,” he said.
“I did not ask him to do anything other than use his good offices to persuade Pakistan to desist from this path.”
“We are living today in an increasingly interdependent world and whosoever world leaders I meet I convey to them that all problems between India and Pakistan can be resolved through meaningful bilateral dialogue if only Pakistan would take a more reasonable attitude in dealing with those terrorist elements who target our country,” he said.