Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants dialogue: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged Pakistan to walk away from the path of terrorism and added that India alone cannot walk on the path of peace.

"I had also travelled to Lahore but India alone cannot walk the path of peace. Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India and my vision for our neighbourhood led me to invite leaders of all SAARC neighbours including Pakistan for my swearing in ceremony," he said addressing the second Raisina dialogue in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Modi added that in the management of India's relationship and for peace and progress, one needs to guard against any inclination that promotes exclusion.

"Globally connected societies, digital opportunities, technology shifts, knowledge boom and innovation are leading the march of humanity. We need to guard against any inclination that promotes exclusion, especially in Asia. The multi-polarity of the world and an increasingly multi-polar Asia, is a dominant fact today," he added.

Prime Minister Modi went on to say, that prosperity of Indians, both at home and abroad, and security of citizens are of paramount importance.

He asserted that India's economic and political rise represents a regional and global opportunity of great significance.

The dialogue features inaugural panel with Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, Foreign Minister of Nepal Prakash Sharan Mahat, former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, former prime minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister of Bangladesh Gowher Rizvi.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will deliver the keynote address on Wednesday.

More than 250 participants from 65 countries are taking part in this year's three-day Dialogue.

The first edition was attended by 120 participants from 40 countries.