Prime Minister offers Pakistan a Treaty of Peace, Security and Friendship Says "meaningful agreement" possible on Siachen, Sir Creek and Baglihar Not afraid of discussing "pragmatic, practical solutions" on issue of Jammu and Kashmir Flagging off the Amritsar - Nankana Sahib bus service, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh extended a hand of friendship to the people of Pakistan and proposed a bilateral Treaty of Peace, Security and Friendship.

Stating that it is possible for India and Pakistan to come to a "meaningful agreement" on issues like Siachen, Sir Creek and Baglihar, the Prime Minister said it would be "a mistake to link normalization of other relations with finding a solution to Jammu & Kashmir." However, Dr Singh added, "we are not afraid of discussing Jammu & Kashmir or of finding, pragmatic, practical solutions to resolve this issue as well." The Prime Minister also said, "I am convinced we can move forward, if all concerned are willing to accept the ground realities; if all concerned take a long view of history and of our destiny."

The Prime Minister complimented President Pervez Musharraf for taking "bold steps to curb extremism" but added, "But more needs to be done in the interest of both India and Pakistan.

Dr. Singh said, "The time has come to leave behind the animosities and the misgivings of the past and to think the unthinkable of moving together in pursuit of our common objective of getting rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease that still afflict millions of our citizens. India and Pakistan must work together to open up new opportunities of economic cooperation, not only with South Asia, but also with West Asia and Central Asia. Cities like Lahore and Amritsar should once again become throbbing international commercial centers serving the entire region."

Speaking at length on the economic benefits for both countries from the normalization of relations, Dr Singh said, "There are many things that the two Punjabs can learn from each other's development experience. We must encourage people-to-people contacts between actors in civil society, between academics, businessmen, artistes, and most importantly, the common people. It is through such contacts that we can explore a vision for a cooperative common future for our two nations - a future where peace prevails, where relations are friendly, where our citizens rejoice in the well-being of the other country."

On the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister also added:

"A step-by-step approach has to be adopted given the inherent difficulties involved in finding practical solutions. I suggest that both sides should begin a dialogue with the people in their areas of control to improve the quality of governance so as to give the people on both sides a greater chance of leading a life of dignity and self respect.

I have often said that borders cannot be redrawn but we can work towards making them irrelevant - towards making them just lines on a map. People on both sides of the LOC should be able to move more freely and trade with one another.

I also envisage a situation where the two parts of Jammu & Kashmir can, with the active encouragement of the governments of India and Pakistan, work out cooperative, consultative mechanisms so as to maximize the gains of cooperation in solving problems of social and economic development of the region."

The Prime Minister also said that : "The vision that guides us is that the destinies of our peoples are interlinked. That our two countries must therefore devise effective cooperative strategies to give concrete shape and meaning to this shared vision. India sincerely believes that a strong, stable, prosperous and moderate Pakistan is in the interest of India and entire South Asia. We are sincerely committed to the prosperity, unity, development and well-being of Pakistan."

Dr. Singh then said, "I have a vision that the peace making process must ultimately culminate in our two countries entering into a Treaty of Peace, Security and Friendship to give meaning and substance to our quest for shared goals."