We want friendly ties with neighbours including Pak: Rajnath

The government today said it sincerely wants to have friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, but Islamabad will also have to think about its approach.

"We made our intention clear on the day of oath ceremony (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi). If it were not our  intention to improve our relations with Pakistan, perhaps our  Prime Minister would not have invited the Pakistan PM to the  oath ceremony," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said here.

He was talking to reporters after paying obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

Singh said it was a sincere effort on part of India to  have friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries,  including Pakistan.

"I want to say from the depth of my heart that Pakistan is our neighbouring country (and) we want not only good but friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.

"(Former Prime Minister) AtalJi (Behari Vajpayee) used to say time and again that we can change friends but not  neighbours. We also believe in that...

"There will be not let up in our efforts but Pakistan will have to think about it (too)," he added.