October 11, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1429

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India wants to address all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, with Pakistan in a peaceful manner.

Mr Singh said the Indian government was open to holding talks with all segments of society in Kashmir, including the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Friday, the first day of his two-day visit to occupied Kashmir, he said India wanted to normlise relations with Pakistan.

Earlier, Mr Singh inaugurated a 45MW hydro power project at Baglihar Dam on the Chenab river, which flows from occupied Kashmir into Pakistan.

Pakistan has objected to the dam, saying it will shrink its access to water. India has rejected the charge, saying the project is crucial for power-starved Kashmir.

“Borders cannot be changed but they can be made irrelevant,” Mr Singh said. “We must create conditions whereby a Kashmiri living in Srinagar or Muzaffarabad should not see any problem” in promoting people-to-people contacts.

Describing old ways of thinking as being irrelevant, he said: “New ways of working together are required to strengthen bilateral ties. A strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan is in India’s interest.”

Mr Singh said: “Good relations with Pakistan are an essential part of our policy. My vision of India-Pakistan is that both countries situate their bilateral relations in a cooperative framework of mutual understanding.”

“We seek the normalisation of relationship with Pakistan, a solution of all issues that cause estrangement, including Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue and peaceful negotiations in an atmosphere free of violence,” he said.When asked about the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, he said: “It is too early, frankly, to consider this. If the situation begins to normalise, we have to review it. The situation today is not that sort. I can’t assure you.”

When asked about the situation in occupied Kashmir, he said although he was always pleased to visit the region, “there is a tinge of sadness this time because of the recent incidents of violence in the state which have caused concern to all of us.”

Terming the incidents irrelevant, he said it showed that there was some resentment towards the government among the section of youths here on certain issues. “It is always been our belief that most of the difficult issues can be resolved through dialogue,” he said.—APP