Talking tough ahead of his scheduled meeting with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday said it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India.
Addressing the 68th session of United Nations General Assembly here, Dr. Singh said New Delhi is committed to resolving all issues with Islamabad.
"Speaking from this podium yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan spoke of making a new beginning. I reciprocate his sentiments and am looking forward to meeting him tomorrow. India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue on the basis of the Shimla Agreement," he added.
Dr. Singh said, however, for progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India.
"It is equally important that the terrorist machinery that draws its sustenance from Pakistan be shut down. There must be a clear understanding of the fact Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that there can never, ever, be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of India," he added.
Dr. Singh said terrorism remains a grave threat to security and stability everywhere and extracts a heavy toll of innocent lives around the world.
"From Africa to Asia, we have seen several manifestations of this menace in the last few days alone. State-sponsored cross-border terrorism is of particular concern to India, also on account of the fact that the epicenter of terrorism in our region is located in our neighbourhood in Pakistan," he added.
Dr. Singh, who yesterday met U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington D.C. yesterday, made it clear that any progress in the bilateral dialogue will depend on action by Pakistan against terror groups operating from its soil. Terrorism emanated from Pakistan dominated his talks with US President Obama yesterday.
"I explained to President Obama the difficulties that we face given the fact that the epicenter of terror still remains focused in Pakistan. And I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even though the expectations have to be toned down given the terror arm which is still active in our subcontinent," said Dr. Singh in his statement to media after his bilateral meeting with President Obama.
Dr.Singh will hold his first meeting with Sharif tomorrow.
Three terrorists sneaked across the border into Jammu and Kashmir and killed 10 people, including a Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army, in two audacious attacks on Thursday.
The militants, who were dressed in Army fatigues, first struck a police station in Hiranagar of Kathua district in Jammu at about 6.45 am, killing four cops and two others. They then attacked an Army camp in Samba district and killed four Army men, before being shot dead in a nine-hour-long gun battle.
The leaders of the nuclear-armed neighbours are expected to discuss rising violence in Kashmir.
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.
India has accused Pakistan of supporting militants fighting security forces in Indian Kashmir since 1989.
Militant strikes in Kashmir, as well as shooting and mortar fire between Indian and Pakistani forces across the border, have risen this year after a decade of falling violence.
