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India asks Pakistan to act against terror for improvement of ties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, June 9, IRNA – India on Tuesday asked Pakistan to act against terror with determination and create an atmosphere for improvement of ties.

India's Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, while underlining that India has vital interest in trying to make peace with Pakistan, promised to meet its leadership "morethan half-way" if it takes "strong and effective" steps to prevent terrorism directed against this country.

"Pakistani leadership will demonstrate "courage, determination and statesmanship" to act against terror and "create an atmosphere" for improvement of ties", Singh hoped, while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament).

"We expect the government of Pakistan to take strong, effective and sustained action to prevent terrorism directed against India and use every means at its service to bring to justice the perpetrators of terror attacks, including the Mumbai attacks," the Prime Minister said.

Meanwhile, turning to the country's internal security, the Prime Minister said security is vital for the all round development of the country. Dwelling at length on the issue of terrorism and left-wing extremism, Dr Singh said there has to be Zero tolerance towards terrorism and naxal activities should be dealt with firmnly while ensuring that the benefits of the social and economic developments should reach the tribals. He also said there is a need to have a re-look at the flow of resources to the tribals and they are brought to the national mainstream. Dr Singh also spelt out a number of steps the government has taken against future terror attacks in the country.

Referring to India's economic growth, Prime Minister has said the country's economy is even now capable of growing by 8-9 percent, the same rate as it did before the global financial meltdown set in.

"Since our savings rate is as high as 35 per cent...if all work together, we can achieve a growth rate of 8 to 9 per cent, even if the world economy does not improve," he said while winding up the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's address to joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday.

The global crisis, Singh said, had affected India's economic growth that slipped from 9 percent to around 7 percent in the previous fiscal.

The fall in growth is mainly due to dip in investments, which are key to economic expansion.

The Prime Minister further said that during the current fiscal the country would grow by seven percent.

"This year, we will maintain at least seven per cent growth rate. In the short run we cannot do better, but this is also good enough," he said.