India for peaceful resolution of all issues with Pak: Prez

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) President Pratibha Patil todaysaid the government would seek a peaceful resolution of allissues with Pakistan through talks as long as it does notallow its soil to be used for terror activities against India.

"With Pakistan, we seek a peaceful resolution of issuesthrough a meaningful dialogue so long as Pakistan does notallow its soil to be used for terrorist activities againstIndia," she said in her address to a joint sitting ofParliament.

The government''s foreign policy priority remainedpromotion and creation of an environment that is conducive tothe socio-economic transformation of India, she said.

"The pursuit of peace, shared prosperity and regionalcooperation within the Indian sub-continent and in ourextended neighbourhood will continue to guide my government''sefforts," Patil said.

Regarding Egypt, she said, "We have an abiding interest inpeace, stability and development of countries in our extendedneighbourhood. Egypt has recently seen momentous developments.

As a democracy ourselves, we welcome the dawn of democracyelsewhere."

Noting that the government has broadened India''s economicand political relations with the countries of Gulf, West,Central and East Asia, she said India was now a party to theTurkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline project whichcould "potentially transform the energy scenario in thissub-region."

Observing that many Indians were working in the Gulf andWest Asia and making valuable contributions to thesecountries, Patil said, "We will continue to work for thewelfare of our diaspora whose contributions to India weappreciate and whose links we will foster." (More) PTI ARC