Tuesday, May 31 2005 08:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Giving a positive assessment of the forward movement in the Indo-Pak peace process, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday (May 30, 2005) said there was an atmosphere where "basic problems" can be discussed but made it clear that he did not have the mandate to negotiate on redrawing India's boundaries.

"I do believe that we have moved forward. We have today an atmosphere where we can start discussing basic problems," he said in an hour-long interaction with foreign journalists based in Delhi.

The Prime Minister underscored the need for finding "constructive solutions" to all outstanding issues on being asked whether Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's recent statements relating to greater autonomy, self governance and international supervision for JK were realistic.

Observing that he was willing to discuss all issues "including what President Musharraf calls the core issue of JK", Singh firmly ruled out further division of the country or redrawing of boundaries.

"I will never accept anything that leads to further division of India on religious lines. I have no mandate to negotiate on redrawing our boundaries. Within these limitations, the two of us must work together to create an environment" to take the peace process forward, he said.

The Prime Minister, however, said that Pakistan has not done "enough" in dismantling terrorist infrastructure in that country and "more needs to be done".

Singh, who has been invited by Musharraf, said he looked forward to his visit to Pakistan but gave no indication of when he proposed to undertake it.

The Prime Minister also contended that it would be "unrealistic" to fix any timeframe for resolving the Kashmir problem, which has defied a solution for the last 57 years.

Singh answered a range of questions on India's relations with the US, China and neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar as also on issues like UN reforms, nuclear policy, economy and his relations with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

The Prime Minister emphatically stated that the "first and foremost pre-condition" which he had conveyed to Musharraf was that "terrorist elements must be fully under control".

He said, "If we have a major attack like the one on Parliament or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters or other places, that could upset the whole process".

Singh said this required a "new pattern" of working. He felt that a lot could be done by promoting people to people contacts. "There is great scope for moving forward," he said while pledging to work together with Musharraf to "build new bonds of cooperation and partnership".

The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to his visit to the US in July at the invitation of President George W Bush and that he would be participating in the twice-deferred South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Dhaka in November this year.