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Pakistan must make equal
efforts for friendship: PM

JAIPUR - India wants friendly relations with Pakistan, but it will not be possible unless Pakistan makes equal efforts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Sunday.

He also said the “inhuman” killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Jan 8 may adversely impact bilateral relations.

“The inhuman act of Pakistan along the Line of Control on January 8 is known to all. We are constantly reviewing our relations with Pakistan and we have made it clear this incident may have bad influence on bilateral relations,” Manmohan Singh said at the All India Congress Committee meet here.

“Whatever action we will take, it will be after consideration and with great care. We want friendly relations with Pakistan but they will also have to try for it. Unless there are efforts from their side, our efforts or wishes will not make it possible,” the prime minister said.

Last week, in a stern message, the prime minister said that it will not be “business as usual” with Pakistan following the LoC killings.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi reiterated that India believes in maintaining peace with neighbours but would enter into a dialogue only on “accepted principles of civilised behaviour”.

Reiterating her statement of Friday, Gandhi said: “India is a country which believes in maintaining peace with neighbours, but indulges in a dialogue based only on accepted principles of civilised behaviour.”

“We are determined to deal with terrorism and cross-border threats,” she said. The draft Jaipur Resolution of the Congress meet says that India’s neighbours and partners must recognise its legitimate security concerns.