The Hindu : National : India for peace and stability in Pakistan, says Anand Sharma

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India for peace and stability in Pakistan, says Anand Sharma

Special Correspondent

He says guiding principles of border talks with China have been agreed upon

Anand Sharma

Kolkata: India hopes that Pakistan gets democracy and the democratic institutions and processes are consolidated in future, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said.

Replying to a question on the outcome of elections in Pakistan, he said “we have a special relationship with Pakistan and India wants the region to have peace and stability and share the benefits of economic growth.”

However, to another query what the new government would mean for India, he said he would neither make any judicious observation nor any prescriptive suggestion in this regard.

“We do not decide for any country,” he said.

To a question on the Cuban president laying down office, he refused to comment.

Talks with China

Mr Sharma, who earlier addressed the members of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, said that the process of border talks with China were going forward and the guiding principles and parameters had been agreed upon. But no time frame could be given.

Commenting on India’s energy scene, he said that a judicious mix of all fuel sources, including nuclear, was needed for the country’s energy security.

Fossil fuel is a depleting source, he said noting that tidal wave had emerged as a possibility and India was already good in tapping wind and solar energy.

“We have to go for a large basket which includes nuclear energy,” he said.

He however had a word of caution against diversion of agricultural land and crops, for getting bio-fuels like ethanol saying that there was the real issue of food security to be borne in mind here.

Food prices had already increased in many countries due to this.

Nuclear deal

He said that it would hurt India’s long-term interests if it lost the opportunity for a civilian nuclear engagement.

To doubts on whether India’s growth story was a sustainable one, the minister admitted that infrastructure both in rural and urban areas remained a challenge.

However all such challenges, current and future, would have to be met so that India’s growth process became not only sustainable but also an inclusive one.

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