Terror-free environment needed for dialogue with Pakistan: Modi

New Delhi, Aug 29 :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said he was “disappointed” that Pakistan sought to make a “spectacle” of efforts at talks and added that any “meaningful” bilateral dialogue requires an environment that is free from “terrorism” and “violence”.

“India desires peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties with Pakistan. I had a very good meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in May 2014, when he attended the swearing-in ceremony of my government,” Modi said at an interaction with Japanese media ahead of his visit to the country.

“We together decided that the foreign secretaries should meet and explore how to take relations forward. India has no hesitation to discuss any outstanding issue with Pakistan within the bilateral framework that has been established under the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration,” he said.

The prime minister said India was therefore disappointed that Pakistan sought to make a spectacle of these efforts (at talks) and went ahead with talks with secessionist elements from Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi just prior to the meeting of the foreign secretaries.

“We will continue to make efforts to build peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties with Pakistan, but I might add that any meaningful bilateral dialogue necessarily requires an environment that is free from terrorism and violence,” he added.

(IANS)