By IANS,
New Delhi : Pakistan’s support of terrorism directed against India can harm bilateral ties, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Friday, adding that terrorists were enemies of the people of both countries.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, the prime minister said the suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul in July that killed over 50 people and for which New Delhi blamed Islamabad had cast a shadow on efforts to normalize bilateral relations.
“The recent blasts in our embassy … have cast a shadow over our efforts to normalize relations with Pakistan and to bring a lasting and honourable peace in our region. I have personally conveyed my concern and disappointment to the government of Pakistan,” Manmohan Singh said.
“If this issue of terrorism is not addressed, all the good intentions we have for our two peoples to live in peace and harmony will be negated. We will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives we want to take.
“The terrorists and those who support them are enemies of the people of India and Pakistan, of friendship between the two countries and of peace in the region and the world. We must defeat them.”
The prime minister added that India, the biggest country in South Asia, wished all its neighbours well.
“We welcome the strengthening of democratic forces in our neighbourhood, especially in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan,” he said.