Success of Composite Dialogue Process depends on Pak : Menon

New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) India today asserted that the success of the Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) with Pakistan was predicated on Islamabad fulfilling its commitment not to permit any part of its territory to be used to support terrorism in any manner.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, at a seminar here, said terrorism remained a particular concern for India and infltration from across the border continued.

He identified ensuring a peaceful periphery, relations with major powers and ''issues of future'' including food security, water, energy and environment as three major challenges before the Indian Foreign Policy.

About the recently-concluded 14th SAARC Summit, he said the smooth and productive course of the meet, free from disputes and posturing, was a reflection of the changing circumstances.

He hoped that with the increase in India's engagement with its neighbours, the value of bilateral linkages would ''outweigh the attractions of sterile confrontation.'' As the Chair of SAARC, it would be India's endeavour to usher in a new phase of effective regional cooperation, re-connecting the sub-continent to itself and the world, the Foreign Secretary said while speaking on 'The Challenges Ahead For India's Foreign Policy.' Describing managing relationship with world's major powers as the second major challenge, Mr Menon said that as India looked forward to an increasing role in global affairs, it needed to expand the network of international relationship, political engagement and economic and technical cooperation with the world.

''We are looking today at expanding circles of engagement starting withthe immediate neighbourhood, West Asia, Central Asia, South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean Region,'' he added.

Pointng out that food security, energy, environment and water were inter-linked which would have critical impact on India's future, the Foreign Secretary said India would build partnerships with other countries who have surplus energy.

He, however, regretted that even though havng surplus water, the countries in the sub-continent had not seen enough collaboration in managing the water resources in the past.

He called for reversing the trend and assured that as agreed at the recently-concluded SAARC Summit, India would work with its neighbours in this regard.

UNI