Don’t create trust deficit, Pranab tells Pakistan

Pakistan must abide by its commitments made to India and desist from actions that contribute to trust deficit between the two countries, President Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday.

The president told parliament that India sought peace, stability, cooperation and economic development in South Asia.

“We attach the highest priority to relations with our immediate neighbours,” he told a

>joint session of parliament here.

“With Pakistan, we have made progress towards normalisation of relations, strengthening mechanisms for bilateral trade and facilitating greater people-to-people contact.

“While we remain committed to taking the process forward, it is also important that Pakistan abides by its commitments and desists from acts that contribute to a trust deficit.”

Mr. Mukherjee said that as Afghanistan prepares for political and security transition in 2014, India would continue to help it evolve peacefully and to fight terrorism and extremism.

He said the government proposed to introduce a constitutional amendment bill to give effect to the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh.

The President said India intended to work with the new Chinese leadership to reinforce the positive direction in bilateral relationship.