Blitz Bureau
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has said that every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan was met with hostility and betrayal and hoped that wisdom would prevail on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.
In an interaction with US-based popular podcaster and computer scientist Lex Fridman, PM Modi recalled that he had specially invited his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony in 2014 with the hope that the two countries could turn a new leaf.
He called out Pakistan’s long-standing role in fostering terrorism, emphasising that the world is no longer in doubt about where the roots of terror lie. Time and again, Pakistan has emerged as the epicentre of terror, causing immense suffering not just to India but to the entire world, he added. PM Modi stressed that India is not neutral but firmly committed to peace. Replying to a question on the RussiaUkraine conflict, he stressed that resolution to the conflict will come only when both nations come to the negotiating table.
He said Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies but it will bear no fruit unless both parties are included in the discussions. He also added that the current situation provides an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Russia and Ukraine. On India-China relations, PM Modi said both nations have ancient cultures and civilisations and the relationship between the two countries is not new. He pointed out that together, India and China have contributed to the global good in some way.
He added that there is no real history of conflict between India and China in earlier centuries. He opined that strong relations between India and China should continue in the future. The Prime Minister noted that differences do exists between neighbouring countries and occasional disagreements are bound to happen. He said the focus is to ensure that difference do not turn to disputes. He underlined that a stable and cooperative relationship can only be built if the focus is on dialogue and not discord.
On US President Donald Trump calling him a tough negotiator, PM Modi stated that it is President Trump’s magnanimity to call him a tough negotiator and appreciating him on various platforms.
