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  • Oct 29th, 2009
  • Comments Off on India makes peace overture to Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a peace overture to neighbouring Pakistan Wednesday, saying New Delhi will respond with friendship if Islamabad contained terrorist groups targeting India. Inaugurating a segment of the first-ever train service in IHK, Singh also invited Kashmiri mujahideen for talks on the condition that they renounce violence.

The Indian leader said his government was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan if the neighbouring country showed sincerity and good faith. Singh was speaking in occupied Anantnag town, where he inaugurated a new train link that completes the 129-kilometre rail network connecting the northern and southern parts of the held Kashmir valley.

"I will ask the Pakistani government to control groups spreading terrorism in India," Singh said in a speech in the Urdu language. "It is the Pakistan government's responsibility to destroy their camps and eliminate their infrastructure. Singh also renewed the Indian federal government's offer to negotiate with all sections of held Kashmiri society.

He began a two-day visit to the restive region that saw tight security after intelligence reports indicated that militants were likely to escalate violence. "Our government is ready to talk to anyone, provided they abjure violence and bloodshed and desire peace and development in held Kashmir," Singh said. Meanwhile, daily life in held Kashmir valley was disrupted after a shutdown called by Kashmiri leaders to protest Singh's visit. Major markets, educational institutions and banks remained closed in response to the strike call.

Copyright Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 2009


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