Shinde welcomes Mukherjee's tough stand on Pak, calls for good relations

Echoes President Mukherjee's claim that non-state actors who perpetrate terrorism was a word used by Pakistan

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Friday said that President Pranab Mukherjee's statement on Pakistan in Brussels is correct, but asserted that both South Asian neighbours need to maintain good relations.

"I think the President is correct, but as far as possible, we are talking to Pakistan because, they are our neighbours, we have to maintain relations. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also had sideline talks at the United Nations and they held good talks. I haven't seen the President's statement as yet. He has spoken on behalf of the country," he told media here on Friday.

Asserting that state-sponsored terrorism from across the border cannot be accepted, President Pranab Mukherjee has said India wants peace with Pakistan, but there can be no compromise with its own territorial integrity.

"Terrorist activities must be curbed. And, state-sponsored terrorism can never be accepted. Therefore, repeatedly, we are saying, please dismantle the terrorist outfits which are located in your area," he said in an interview to Euronews.

President Mukherjee, who is presently on an official visit to Belgium, said non-state actors who perpetrate terrorism was a word used by Pakistan.

"It may not be. But non-state actors, that is the phrase they used, then I responded by saying that non-state actors are not coming from heaven. Non-state actors are coming from territory under your control," said President Mukherjee.

"And not now, in 2004 Pakistan agreed that their territories will not be allowed to be used by forces inimical to India," he added, when he was asked to comment that India says that this is state-sponsored terrorism and Pakistan says it is not state-sponsored terrorism.

President Mukherjee said India wants peace with its neighbours, and stressed that no nation can, however, compromise on its territorial integrity.