NEW DELHI: Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday that India sees progress in ties with Pakistan in spite of recent hiccups on the Line of Control in Kashmir.
“With Pakistan, we have made progress towards normalisation of relations, strengthening mechanism for bilateral trade and facilitating greater people-to-people contact,” Mukherjee said in his address to the joint sitting of Parliament.
The President said India remains committed to taking the process forward, adding that “It is also important that Pakistan abides by its commitments and desists from acts that contribute to a trust deficit”.
The President prefaced his remarks by saying that India continued to seek peace, stability, cooperation and economic development in the sub-continent.
“We attach the highest priority to relations with our immediate neighbour,” he said.
Mukherjee also made it clear that as Afghanistan prepared for a political and security transition in 2014 and beyond, “we will continue to help Afghanistan evolve peacefully and fight terrorism and extremism”.
On China, Indian President said his government intended to work with the new Chinese leadership to reinforce the positive direction of the bilateral relationship.
“My government’s foreign policy continues to be driven by the objectives of creating an enabling environment for our national development, ensuring the security of the nation and fulfilling our international responsibilities”, Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee said the Strategic Partnership with the US has deepened with progress across all areas of the relationship. He said “We look forward to intensifying this engagement during the second term of President Obama.”
DND
