India prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pak: Rao

Yoshita Singh
Boston, Sept 21 (PTI) India is prepared to "discuss
all outstanding issues" with Pakistan, including the issue of
Jammu and Kashmir, to ensure stability in the South Asian
region, a top Indian diplomat said here.
"The issue of Jammu & Kashmir comes up in our
relationship with Pakistan and we've said very clearly, very
confidently and very transparently that we are prepared to
discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan," India's Foreign
Secretary Nirupama Rao said Monday.
Rao added that India wants to "persevere in our
dialogue with Pakistan. It is not about segmenting this
dialogue or taking away the complicated issues from it saying
we are not ready to discuss it.
That is certainly not our approach.
We want to discuss all the outstanding issues and
that will also include the issue of Jammu and Kashmir."
The top diplomat, who was in Washington earlier to
discuss President Obama's upcoming India visit in November,
stressed that Kashmir is an internal matter as far as India is
concerned.
"It is an internal affair because it (Kashmir) is an
integral part of India."
She said India is "determined to persevere in our
dialogue with Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues so that
our region will be stable and so that the rationale of
economic development in an atmosphere of peace, for all of
South Asia, remains our steadfast goal."
Later referring to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Rao told
PTI it's an issue that is very much a part of what "we want to
speak to Pakistan about. On Mumbai, closure is needed."
She said Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik is
in touch with the Indian Home Ministry about the 26/11 trial.
"The trial has moved slowly. There has not been much
progress to show out of it." In the city to deliver the
Harish Mahindra Memorial lecture at Harvard University on
'India's Global Role,' Rao said India wants to create an
economic environment with its neighbours since a peaceful
neighbourhood is mandatory for the "realisation of our own
vision of economic growth."
However, India's vision of an enhanced South Asian
cooperation for development is challenged by violent extremism
and terrorism which originates in "our region and finds
sustenance and sanctuary there," Rao added. (MORE) PTI YAS RET
MRD


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.