President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said India wants peace with Pakistan but terrorism has to be stopped.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said India wants peace with Pakistan but terrorism has to be stopped.
In an interview to Euronews, he also dismissed Pakistan’s contention that “non-state actors” were behind the terror acts in India.
“In our basic foreign policy, we do not have any territorial ambition. We do not have any intention to export our ideology to any country. I can’t change my neighbours. It is for me to decide whether I will live with my neighbour in peace or in tension. We chose to live in peace,” President Mukherjee said.
“One point is to be understood – no country can compromise its territorial integrity. Second is terrorism – terrorist activities must be stopped, and state-sponsored terrorism can never be accepted,” he said.
Mukherjee, for long time India’s leading politician who held external affairs ministry more than once before his elevation to presidentship, also rubbished Pakistan’s contention on non-state actors.
“Non-state actors are not coming from heaven. Non-state actors are coming from territory under you (Pakistan),” he said.
Mukherjee is on a four-day state visit to Belgium.
-IANS
