NEW DELHI: India has said it had consistently tried to promote better relationship with Pakistan, but cross-border terrorism had prevented these endeavours from fructifying.
“The trajectory of our relationship over the last few decades has been distorted and adversely impacted by the factor of cross-border terrorism,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said speaking on India’s foreign policy at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.
A copy of her speech was released by the Ministry of External Affairs on its website.
Ms Rao said good relations could only grow in an atmosphere free of terror and violence.
“A stable Pakistan which acts as a bulwark against terrorism and extremism is in its own interest and also in the interest of our region,” she said.
She described her recent talks with Pakistani Foreign Secretary Bashir in Islamabad as “productive” and “positive”. (Agencies)