Thursday, January 5 2006 19:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Stressing that India did not harbour any 'territorial ambitions', Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Jan 05, 2006) dwelt upon the need to live in peace with neighbours and said the Centre was holding talks with Pakistan to achieve this end.

"We do not have any territorial ambitions at the cost of others. That is why we are talking to friends in Pakistan to engage in dialogue," he said, launching the 7th edition of 'Destination India', a multi-media campaign organised by the Centre to highlight and take to the people the policies launched by the Congress-led UPA government.

Asserting that the country was fully prepared to defend its territory, he said the country was "sensitive" and wanted all neighbours to live in peace. "We expect them to pursue their polices in their countries in a way so that we do not suffer because of that."

"We can't change our neighbours for all time to come and have to live with them. Therefore we have to live in peace. That is exactly the policy we are pursuing," he said adding, "our neighbours should also respond to see that all of us live in peace." Referring to the October 8 earthquake, Mukherjee said the armed forces were told to extend all possible help to the people who had suffered on the other side of the border.

Despite India being a poor country, it had provided USD 50 million to Pakistan for rehabilitation of earthquake victims, he added.