Pakistan must clamp down on terrorism: PM

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked Pakistan to clamp down on terrorism lest the peace process with India got derailed even as he sought the support of all political parties to find a permanent solution to the problems of Jammu and Kashmir burning with incendiary fire for the past several weeks over the Amarnath land transfer issue.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the 62nd Independence Day, Dr Singh said the last month's bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul had cast a shadow over ''our efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan'', and he had expressed his ''disappointment and concern'' to Islamabad.

''If this issue of terrorism is not addressed, all the good intentions that we have for our two peoples to live in peace and harmony will be negated,'' he said. ''We will not be able to pursue the peace initiatives we want to take.'' Hitting out at those playing divisive politics over the Amarnath issue, he said the sacred shrine was a shining example of the country's secular tradition, where Hindu pilgrims had been looked after for years by their Muslim brothers.

''Dividing people in the name of religion can complicate the issues (relating to Amarnath shrine) which can pose a threat to the unity and integrity of the country,'' he said and called upon the people and political parties to help the government in establishing peace in the state through dialogue Outlining communalism, extremism and fundamentalism as major challenges to the unity and integrity of the country, he said ''politics of consensus, not confrontation'' was required to overcome them as these cannot be won by a nation divided.

On the rising inflation, which has touched 12.44 per cent, the PM said his government was taking ''determined'' measures to bring prices under ''reasonable'' control.

''However, while making these efforts we should avoid doing anything which hurts our growth,'' he said and emphasied that the economy must grow at the rate of ten per cent every year to get rid of poverty and generate employment for all.

EDS: Here pick up suitably from earlier series.

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