New York: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday met his Pakistani couterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, after much political controversy s
New York: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday met his Pakistani couterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, after much political controversy surrounded the lead-up to their meeting. Talking tough ahead of his scheduled meeting with Sharif, Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday said it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India. Major row over Sharif purportedly calling PM 'village woman' Addressing the 68th session of United Nations General Assembly here, Dr. Singh said New Delhi is committed to resolving all issues with Islamabad. -"Speaking from this podium yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan spoke of making a new beginning. I reciprocate his sentiments and am looking forward to meeting him tomorrow. India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue on the basis of the Shimla Agreement,-" he added. Dr. Singh said, however, for progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India. -"It is equally important that the terrorist machinery that draws its sustenance from Pakistan be shut down. There must be a clear understanding of the fact Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that there can never, ever, be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of India,-" he added. Dr. Singh said terrorism remains a grave threat to security and stability everywhere and extracts a heavy toll of innocent lives around the world. -"From Africa to Asia, we have seen several manifestations of this menace in the last few days alone. State-sponsored cross-border terrorism is of particular concern to India, also on account of the fact that the epicenter of terrorism in our region is located in our neighbourhood in Pakistan,-" he added. Dr. Singh, who met U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington D.C. on Friday, made it clear that any progress in the bilateral dialogue will depend on action by Pakistan against terror groups operating from its soil. Terrorism emanating from Pakistan dominated his talks with US President Obama on Saturday. The leaders of the nuclear-armed neighbours are expected to discuss rising number of attempts to cross the Line of Control and and attempts at violence in Jammu and Kashmir. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. India has accused Pakistan of supporting militants fighting security forces in Indian Kashmir since 1989. Militant strikes in Kashmir, as well as shooting and mortar fire between Indian and Pakistani forces across the border, have risen this year after a decade of falling violence.
