India on Tuesday said it was willing to go "more than half the way" to hold peace talks with Pakistan but terrorism could "not be shoved under the carpet." External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, in interaction with visiting journalists from Eastern European states, said India was looking forward to Pakistan addressing its core concern regarding terrorism and tackling the outfits effectively.
"If they (Pakistan) can fulfil their assurances (regarding terror outfits), India is willing to go more than half the way to talk to them. We are looking forward to Pakistan being sensitive to our core concern of terrorism and tackling it effectively," he added. He recalled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call to Pakistan to fulfil assurances on disallowing use of its territory by terror elements for attacking India and dismantling terrorist infrastructure identified by India, proof of which had been shared with other friendly powers.
Reiterating India "wants friendly ties and continues to aspire for civilised" relations with Pakistan, he said, "We want a stable, prosperous and friendly Pakistan as our neighbour. At the same time, terrorism cannot be shoved under the carpet, we have to tackle it".