Natwar rules out major policy shift

While emphasising the government8217;s commitment to resolve differences with Pakistan through negotiations and dialogue, Singh said the 1972 Simla Agreement would remain the 8216;8216;bedrock8217;8217; of the relationship for further agreements between the two countries. 8216;8216;The dialogue for friendship with Pakistan will continue and will be intensified. Differences will be ironed out through negotiations,8217;8217; he said.

A former High Commissioner to Pakistan in 1980-82, Singh said he had some 8216;8216;personal knowledge8217;8217; of the 8216;8216;complexities8217;8217; and 8216;8216;subtleties8217;8217; 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 8216;8216;problem free8217;8217;, barring the border question for which a mechanism has been set up. He was quick to draw attention to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi8217;s visit to China in 1988. Recalling that he was part of Gandhi8217;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.