"I would like to assure the newly elected leadership of Pakistan that we seek good relations with Pakistan," Singh told parliament in his government's most comprehensive reaction to last month's Pakistani election. "India wants to live in peace with Pakistan. The destinies of our two nations, I have often said, are closely inter-linked."
"We need to put the past behind us. We need to think about our collective destiny, our collective security, our collective prosperity," Singh said. "The leaders of the main political parties in Pakistan have also spoken of their interest in developing close relations and working with us to bring about peace."
Singh paid tribute to the roles played by assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto and by Nawaz Sharif in previous efforts to promote peace between the neighbours. Singh congratulated the people of Pakistan for showing that they, like Indians, wanted the right to choose their own government.
"I believe that in both countries, there is a consensus that we must have close and co-operative relations and a framework of enduring peace," he said. "I hope, sir, that the newly elected leaders in Pakistan can quickly move forward with us on this. We would welcome this and meet them halfway."