India wants good relations with Pakistan: Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister in Modhi's cabinet
but the neighbouring country must stop terror activities directed
against it as talks will get subdued under the "din" of bomb blasts,
said after taking charge as External Affairs Minister today.
She also said that as External Affairs Minister her priority would be
to showcase India's strengths to the world and improve relations with
neighbouring countries, strategic partners, Africa,
On the visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister, she said Prime Minister
Narendra Modi had conveyed to
Nawaz Sharif yesterday that talks between the two countries will not be effective if bomb blasts continue.
"We told Pakistan that we want good relations with it. For but for good
relations, the talks can be effective and successful only if terror
activities (directed against India) stops.
"The voice of talks
gets lost in the sound of bomb blasts. That is why bomb blasts should
stop so that we can talk and our voices can be heard. Talks will get
subdued under the din of bomb blasts. He (Modi) conveyed it to Sharif in
these many words," 62-year-old Swaraj told reporters after assuming
charge as External Affairs Minister.
She said India asked
Pakistan to ensure speedy trial in 26/11 terror case being held in
Pakistan. The Pakistani side said they were working on it.
She said the talks Modi had yesterday with
SAARC leaders, who had come to attend his swearing-in ceremony, were successful.
"He told the leaders that SAARC could not make an identity in the world
because of bilateral issues. He said if bilateral contentious issues
are left between the respective countries, then SAARC can emerge as a
strong power," Swaraj said.
"I would like to say that for the
first time the SAARC leaders felt that a government and a Prime Minister
who thinks out of the box has assumed power in India," she said.
Replying to a question, Swaraj said Modi in his talks with Sri Lankan
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had raised the issue of fishermen as well as
the reconciliation process to meet the aspirations of Tamil community
in the country.
"The Prime Minister raised the issue of Tamil
fishermen. I have called them fishermen of Tamil Nadu from India. We
have also raised the issue of 13th amendment," she said.
India
has been pressing for implementation of the 13th Amendment which was
introduced to ensure certain powers to provincial councils based on the
provisions of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987.
Asked what would
be the new government's approach towards the US, Swaraj did not explain
but referred to telephonic conversation Barack Obama had with Modi and
the invitation extended to him to visit US by the American President.
Swaraj said she will talk to US Secretary of State John Kerry who
wanted to talk to her yesterday. "We could not talk as per the scheduled
time yesterday. We will talk after rescheduling it."
Asked
whether the new government will give more weightage to countries like
Japan than the US, Swaraj said it was not proper to compare relations
between the two countries.
"You cannot compare the relations
between the two countries. We have strong trade relations with Japan.
But America has its own significance," she said.
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