We want to normalise relations with Pakistan, says Manmohan

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Srinagar, Oct 10 : Reaching out to Pakistan, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said that India was keen to normalise relations with Islamabad and advocated ‘‘new ways’’ of working together to address all outstanding issues including the Kashmir imbroglio in a friendly manner.

‘‘We want to normalise relations with Pakistan,’’ Singh, who is on a two-day visit, said at a crowded press conference.

The Prime Minister also made it clear that government was open to holding dialogue with all shades of opinion in the state including separatist groups. ‘‘They are welcome to come. I am not closing my doors," he said.

‘‘We must create conditions whereby a Kashmiri living in Srinagar or Muzzafarabad (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) should not see any problem’’ about people-to-people contacts, Singh said.

‘‘Describing as ‘‘irrelevant’’ old ways of thinking, the PM said ‘‘new ways’’ of working together were required to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

‘‘A strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan is India’s interest’’, he said. ‘‘Good relations with Pakistan is an essential part of our policy’’. My vision of India-Pakistan is that both countries situate their bilateral relations in a co-operative framework of mutual understanding.

‘‘We seek the normalisation of relationship with Pakistan, a solution of all issues that cause estrangement including Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue and peaceful negotiations in an atmosphere free of violence,’’ Singh said and added ‘‘while we cannot change borders, we can make them irrelevant.’’