Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday hoped Pakistan's attitude towards India changes "for the better" while his ministerial colleague V.K. Singh said the new Pakistani Prime Minister has been propped up by the Army which still virtually rules the country.
"I don't think that there will be any change in Pakistan's nature. I pray to God that there would be change. I hope the change will be better than before," he told reporters who asked him whether he expected a change with the formation of a new government under Imran Khan.
He was talking to the media at the BSF headquarters in Paloura in Jammu and Kashmir after launching two "smart" border fencing pilot projects under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) programme.
"Pakistan has its own nature and we cannot change it. What Pakistan can do (to change its nature), it will have to do itself. Pakistan has to understand how to behave with neighbours," the Minister said.
He said India had taken maximum attempts to maintain relations with Pakistan as a neighbour.
"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Pakistan by breaking protocol only to maintain better relation. If Pakistan is not trying to understand despite that approach, then what can be done."
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Launching the two pilot CIBMS projects, each covering a 5.5 km stretch along the International Border in Jammu, a first-of-a-kind high-tech surveillance system, he said the new fencing will be erected in vulnerable areas along the 2,026 km border after monitoring its proper functioning.
He said technology will help in minimising the casualties of soldiers guarding the border.
"It will also help in reducing the dependency on physical patrolling," said the Minister, adding technology will create an invisible electronic barrier on land, water and even in air and underground, helping the Border Security Force (BSF) to detect and foil infiltration bids in the most difficult terrains.
Asked about the boycott of municipal and panchayat polls by the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he said: "I appeal to these parties to take part in these elections because this is the only way to establish direct contact with the people."
Meanwhile, speaking at the sidelines of an event in Delhi, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said dialogue with Pakistan can happen only if conditions were conducive.
"After all, if a person (referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan) is propped up by the Army, the Army still rules. Let's wait and watch how things go, whether the person remains under the Army's control or doesn't," he said.
"Dialogue will happen provided the environment is made conducive for it," he added.
His remarks come amid widespread speculation about talks between India and Pakistan after Khan, who took office last month, said the two countries must hold a dialogue "and resolve their conflicts, including Kashmir".
--IANS
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