Thursday, July 21 2005 15:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the role of terrorist elements in Pakistan cannot be ignored but India was ready to work with Islamabad to bring greater balance in bilateral relations.

"I wish President Pervez Musharraf well, we want to work with him to bring greater balance in our own relations. But I have to be realistic enough to recognize the role that terrorist elements have played in the last few years in the history of Pakistan.

"Taliban was the creation of Pakistan extremists, the Wahabi Islam which has flourished, thousands of schools, the madrassas were set up to preach Jihad based on hatred of other religions," he told the Washington Post in an interview.

Responding to a question "If Pakistan asks for a similar agreement (civilian nuclear cooperation), do you expect the US to say no? Well, that's a decision the US has to make" he said.

Singh said Pakistan "Is not a democracy in the sense that we know and you know, we wish Pakistan success in emerging as a moderate Muslim state. We will work with President Pervez Musharraf we have to recognize what has happened".