Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday India will "actively pursue" the peace process with Pakistan to resolve all issues, including Kashmir.
"We desire to live in a neighborhood of peace and prosperity. We will actively pursue the composite dialogue with Pakistan," Manmohan Singh said in his first address to the nation since assuming office last month.
He said India is "sincere" about discussing and resolving all issues, including Kashmir.
However, he noted that the resolution of "major issues" would require the "accommodation of public sentiment in both countries" and hinted that terrorism could impede the peace process that resumed in January.
"We recognize that resolution of major issues requires national consensus and accommodation of public sentiment in both countries. It is self-evident that terrorism and violence would cast a dark shadow over this process," the Indo-Asian News Service quoted Manmohan Singh as saying.
"With our other South Asian neighbors, it will be our sincere effort to jointly realize the vast potential for cooperation, and to ensure mutual security, stability and development," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2004)
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