Amid heightened tension with Pakistan over the LoC killings of Indian soldiers, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday said “persistent dialogue” is a better option to normalise ties with neighbours.
“War is no solution. Persistent dialogue is definitely a better alternative through which we are trying to normalise ties with our neighbours,” the minister told a workshop on “Public Diplomacy Initiative” at the Doon University here.
Mr Khurshid’s comments came against the backdrop of strident demands from the BJP asking the government not to resume the dialogue process with Pakistan till it stops ceasefire violations as also anti-India acts emanating from its soil.
The killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector on August 6 triggered a countrywide outrage with even the Congress urging the government to factor in public sentiments while dealing with Islamabad.
Noting that India occupies the foremost position among developing countries, the minister said “we should not just be looked upon as a developing nation because we can equal many developed countries in various fields.”
He said India’s owes its pre-eminent position among the developing countries to its foreign policy founded by former Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi. Mr Khurshid said they displayed great foresight while framing the country’s foreign policy.