Overcome prejudices for regional amity: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had his eyes set on the future as he spoke of encouraging the free flow of ideas and people in the region to shed prejudices in his message to the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) today, while External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh hoped Pakistan would honour its commitments to curb cross-border terrorism in order to take the peace process forward.

In his brief message, the Prime Minister said, creating a ‘‘neighbourhood of peace and stability’’ was a high priority for the UPA government and hoped that interactions like the SAFMA conference would help develop appreciation of ground realities.

Pranab sees ISI hand in N-E attacks
		New Delhi: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said Pakistan’s ISI was responsible for the serial blasts in Assam and Nagaland over the weekend. ‘‘The ISI is behind it. They are supporting militants in the North-East,’’ Mukherjee said, adding the Bangladesh and Myanmar governments had been asked for their support in taking action against militants camping in those countries. Mukherjee has asked Vijay Kelkar, former advisor to the finance minister, to produce a report on how ordnance factories and defence PSUs can be corporatised. — ENS