By NNN-PTI,
Kozhikode, India : Defence Minister A K Antony hailed Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement that his country was prepared to take the relations with New Delhi to “new levels”, even as truce violations are taking place in some areas.
“We have taken several measures to improve the confidence between the two countries in the recent past, although there are cases of ceasefire violations in some areas,” he told reporters here on Sunday.
“By and large, the ceasefire with China and Pakistan is still holding,” Antony said.
He said India and China would hold a joint army exercise in Belgaum in Karnataka next month.
“For the first time, we are going to hold a joint Army exercise in Belgaum next month and we hope in the coming years it will be extended to the Air Force and Navy also,” he said.
“Even though there are unsettled border issues with China, we are quite happy with the improved relations with that country,” he said.
Referring to the Lankan crisis, he said India always advocated a solution to the issue through dialogue as military operations could not find a lasting solution to the ethnic problem.
“Our view is that the problem should be sorted out through a dialogue,” Antony said.