Natwar rules out major policy shift

While emphasising the government’s commitment to resolve differences with Pakistan through negotiations and dialogue, Singh said the 1972 Simla Agreement would remain the ‘‘bedrock’’ of the relationship for further agreements between the two countries. ‘‘The dialogue for friendship with Pakistan will continue and will be intensified. Differences will be ironed out through negotiations,’’ he said.

A former High Commissioner to Pakistan in 1980-82, Singh said he had some ‘‘personal knowledge’’ of the ‘‘complexities’’ and ‘‘subtleties’’ involved in India-Pakistan relations. This, he hoped, would only help him.

The 73-year-old minister, who started his diplomatic career in China, said the relations with Beijing were largely ‘‘problem free’’, barring the border question for which a mechanism has been set up. He was quick to draw attention to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to China in 1988. Recalling that he was part of Gandhi’s delegation, Singh said India had always attached importance to the principles of peaceful co-existence as outlined in Panchsheel.

On relations with the US, Singh said he would like to see the Indo-US ties follow a steady course and not be dictated by events.