Friday, March 24 2006 12:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Amritsar: Declaring that 'meaningful' agreement was possible with Pakistan on Siachen, Sir Creek and Baglihar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today(Mar 24, 2006) made it clear that it would be a mistake to link a solution to Jammu and Kashmir with other issues.

Flagging off the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service, Singh said, "We are not afraid of discussing J and K or of finding pragmatic, practical solutions to resolve this issue as well".

""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 our destiny", he said.

Contending that it was 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 normalisation of other relations with finding a solution to J and K."

Complimenting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for taking 'bold steps' to curb extremism, he, however, said, "More needs to be done in the interest of both India and Pakistan".

Emphasing that the time has come to leave behind the animosities and the misgivings of the past, Singh wanted the two countries to 'think the unthinkable' of moving together in pursuit of common objective of getting rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease that still afflict millions of people in the two countries.

"India and Pakistan must work together to open up new opportunities of economic cooperation, not only in South Asia, but also with West Asia and Central Asia. Cities like Lahore and Amritsar should once again become throbbing international commercial centres serving the entire region", he said.