Antony for peaceful, stable and democratic Pakistan

Asserting that a peaceful, stable and democratic Pakistan will help India, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday urged Islamabad to take strong action against militant groups operating from its soil with an aim to improve cross-border relations between the two Asian neighbours.

India was concerned about the militant groups, which were operating from Pakistani soil, Antony said.

"Our government and the Indian people want friendly relation with Pakistan because Pakistan is our nearest brother, national neighbourhood, closest neighbour. So, a peaceful and a stable democratic Pakistan will help India also," he told media in Pune.

Antony further said New Delhi is trying to improve its relations with Islamabad.

"The only thing is we are concerned about the terrorist group operating from Pakistan's soil. So, if they can take strong actions against these kinds of terrorist groups operating from Pakistan that will help to improve our relations," he added.

Commenting on India-China relations, Antony said both countries share cordial relations despite the unresolved border disputes.

"Even though we have a long pending and unresolved border dispute with China in many areas our relations are moving very fast in a cordial manner in trade, education and cultural areas," he added.

It may be recalled here that there was a diplomatic and military standoff with China last month in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector near the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

Diplomacy between India and China yielded results after Beijing agreed to pull its troops from the Daulat Beg Oldi sector in Ladakh.

The nearly three-week-old stand-off between India and China over the latter allowing its troops to enter and occupy 19 kilometers of Indian territory in the Daulat Beg Oldie sector, ended with both sides withdrawing their troops to previously agreed positions.

"India and China have agreed to restore status quo along the Line of Actual Control in the western sector of the India-China boundary, as it existed prior to April 15, 2013. Flag meetings have been held to work out the modalities and to confirm the arrangements," MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media in New Delhi last month.