Obama NPT move not directed at us: PM

Though President Obama did not have bilateral meetings with any other G20 leader given his preoccupation with the G20 Summit,Singh said they did discuss some important issues on Friday evening and Saturday morning. “I had an opportunity to talk to him. Last night,I was sitting immediately to his right and today morning too we talked,” the PM added.

Indian officials said the resolution might have been aimed at Iran and North Korea. On reports of Iran’s secret nuclear facility and calls for tougher sanctions against it,the Prime Minister said,“As a signatory to the NPT,Iran has all rights for peaceful use of atomic energy. But it must also carry out its obligation. That’s our principled position for the last five years.”

Regarding his expectations of Pakistan ahead of the foreign ministers’ talks in New York,Singh asked Pakistan to give up its old attitude regarding the use of terror as an instrument of state policy. “We hope the material we supplied to them regarding the attack in Mumbai,they will carry out investigations and bring to book all culprits. It has been admitted by Pakistan that the conspiracy directed at India was hatched in Pakistan.”

Though Singh acknowledged that it was an unstable environment,he said “we have to sail in these difficult waters as best as we can”.

He said India seeks to normalise its relations with Pakistan. “I have said in Parliament that we will move an extra mile in order to normalise relations with Pakistan. We are neighbours and as neighbours we have an obligation to work together,” he added.

The PM also said there was nothing to read between the lines on General McChrystal’s report on Afghanistan being interpreted by some as US seeking dilution of India’s role to allay Pakistan’s concerns of growing Indian influence. “No,not to my knowledge,” he said,adding that the US and other European countries were appreciative of the role India had played in Afghanistan.

“India is helping to finance some of the most important projects in areas of power,road transport,health and education. We have already committed $1.2 billion. Not just the government,but even the people of Afghanistan appreciate it,” Singh added.