India on Monday said a “stable” Pakistan is in its own interest and hoped that peace and normalcy would return to the country, going through a crisis following the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

“We want a stable Pakistan, a peaceful Pakistan,” visiting Indian Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters here.

Antony, who is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, said a stable Pakistan was in India’s own interest.

“Normalcy should be established, that is our concern. It is our priority to see that peace returns to Pakistan,” Antony said.

Referring to his visit to Malaysia, Antony said India’s “Look East policy is proceeding well and New Delhi has cordial ties with all ASEAN countries”.

The Minister emphasised that Southeast Asia was very important to India.

“This area is very important to us, our ties with ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) are fast improving,” the Defence Minister said after a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak here on Monday morning.

Najib on Sunday evening had hosted a dinner at a hotel here in honour of Antony. Deputy Defence Minister Zainal Abidin Zin and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Abdul Aziz Zainal were also present on the occasion.

Antony noted that India attached a lot of importance to Malaysia. “We want to create goodwill without any irritants. There is a growing awareness of the necessity of having relations with India,” he said. The minister added that New Delhi had “no ambitions”.

“We want to help all our neighbours and share whatever we have with them,” he observed.

... contd.