Stating that India’s stand on terrorism was now being appreciated globally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India needs to be always “alert and conscious” regarding drawing the “lakshman Rekha” in its engagements with Pakistan’s elected Government or “other actors”.
On India’s failed NSG bid and relations with China, the Prime Minister said the process initiated by previous Governments was carried forward by the NDA Government which gave it a definite momentum.
In a wide-ranging interview with Times Now, Modi talked about the initiatives (including his visit to lahore) taken by his Government in dealing with Pakistan that have strengthened India’s stand internationally.
“Be it my visit to lahore, or my invitation to the Pakistani Prime Minister to come to India. I don’t have to explain India’s position to the world. The world is unanimously appreciating India’s position. And the world is realising that Pakistan is finding it difficult to respond,” he said.
He also said that India would have to drive home the advantage on the fact that the world is now convinced of India’s views on terrorism from across the border, by continuing to put forth its views on this matter.
The Prime Minister, however, struck a note of caution while dealing with Islamabad.
“The first thing is that with whom in Pakistan will you decide about the lakshman Rekha, with an elected Government or with other actors. So India will have to be alert and conscious all the time. There should not be any laxity and negligence,” he told the television channel.
Modi was asked what is the ‘lakshman Rekha’ for holding talks with Pakistan because in 2014 it was said it will be talks between the two countries only and not with the Hurriyat, the second was 26/11 and now Pathankot.
“Earlier the world would not buy India’s theory on terrorism and sometimes it would even treat it as our law and order problem. Now, the whole world is accepting what India says on terrorism. It is accepting the loss caused to India by terrorism, the loss caused to humanity by terrorism. I believe India will have to continue putting forth its view on this matter,” the Prime Minister said.
Answering a range of questions, Modi touched upon issues relating to foreign policy, India’s attempt to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and his Government’s policies in the last two years.
“India has been making efforts towards the NSG since the beginning, but it was our Government that got India the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) membership,” Modi said.
Asked about China repeatedly blocking India at the NSG, Modi said, “A dialogue with China is on. In matters of foreign policy, it’s not necessary that two countries will always share similar opinions. China and India have different views, but on some issues it has been cooperative. The biggest point is that now we can look China in the eye and discuss matters that interest India.”