NEW DELHI, Oct 9: India has to show some patience and should not play into the hands of “certain elements in Pakistan wanting to stall the peace process”, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said.

“I think much as we feel upset and concerned and hurt by what is happening on the border and the LoC, I think we have to show some perseverance, some patience and some fortitude to ensure that we don’t play into the hands of the forces that want to create trouble,” he said while talking to reporters on his return from Sri Lanka.

The minister was responding to questions about the fate of the Pakistan-India dialogue process in the wake of the alleged infiltration attempt by 35 to 40 terrorists backed by suspected Pakistani special forces in the Keran sector along the Line of Control.

Asked about alleged ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts, Mr Khurshid made it clear that dialogue was the way forward to resolve issues. “Our prime minister has said there is no option…but to trust. But the trust must be matched with our readiness and our insistence on verification. You have to verify and trust,” he said.

Mr Khurshid said Nawaz Sharif was elected on a ‘clear mandate’ of better relations with India.

“The [Indian] prime minister met Mr Nawaz Sharif because Nawaz Sharif has given repeated indications of his desire to normalise the situation between India and Pakistan,” he said.

The Indian government, he said, was aware about “elements in Pakistan” who were against normalcy of ties between the two countries. “We would be playing into their hands, if we cut off all avenues of communication with the elected government of Pakistan,” he said.

“We have asked the DGMOs [Director Generals Military Operation] to meet and meet as often as possible both to eliminate the causes of friction…as well as for ensuring that these things don’t keep getting repeated,” Mr Khurshid said. “We are still in the process of trying to find solutions. I don’t think we should get disappointed and give up soon.”

By arrangement with the Times of India