Trust deficit biggest problem between Indo-Pak: Manmohan

[Pak_Army]

Trust deficit biggest problem between Indo-Pak: Manmohan
--- India ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan
NEW DELHI, May 24 (INP): Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said “trust deficit” between India and Pakistan was the “biggest problem” coming in the way of any improvement in bilateral relations.
Singh also said India is willing to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan but it should ensure that its soil is not used for terrorism against this country, Singh told reporters.
On the forthcoming dialogue between Foreign Ministers of the two countries, Singh said India is going to make a beginning in improving the bilateral relations, which have seen a chill after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008.
“It has been my effort to try to reduce the gap between our two countries without surrendering or affecting our vital national interest”.
The Prime Minister said it was his conviction that the two countries could not make any headway in the Composite Dialogue as there has been a lack of adequate trust between the countries.
“There has been a lack of adequate trust and trust deficit is the biggest problem (between the two countries),” he said.
“We are willing to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan. But it should ensure that its soil is not used for terrorism against India,” he said.
Singh also expressed hope that the new dialogue process can move forward.
“Pakistan is our neighbour. It is my belief that India cannot realise its full development potential unless we have the best possible relations with our neighbours and Pakistan is our largest neighbour,” Singh said.
To a question, Singh asserted that he is not going to retire as he has got some unfinished tasks to complete but said he is ready to make way for younger leadership if the Congress party so desires.
“I have been given this task (Prime Ministership). It is still unfinished. Till I finish the tasks there is no question of retirement,” 77-year-old Singh said to a query by a newsman if the thought of retirement ever came across his mind in the last six years and how he overcame it.
At the same time, to a separate question at the press conference in New Delhi, the first in his second term, Singh said he was ready to make way for “anybody”.
On whether he would make way for Rahul during his current tenure, Singh said he was ready to make place for “anybody” whom the Congress party decides.
“Let me say that I sometimes feel that younger people should take over as when the Congress party makes that judgement and I will very happy to make place for anybody the Congress party” decides, Singh said.
Describing Naxalism as the biggest internal security challenge of the country, Indian Prime Minister said the Central government must help the states to deal with the menace.
“This is a problem which has acquired such a magnitude that cooperation between the Centre and states is absolutely necessary and the Central government must help states in every possible way,.” He, however, said law and order was primarily the state government’s responsibility.
Asked about Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement that he had a limited mandate in tackling the Maoists, Singh said the minister had already explained what he had meant by his statement on the issue.