Modi upbeat on ties with Bangladesh
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday pitched for “a thriving, well-connected and integrated neighbourhood” as his “dream” and said New Delhi has achieved greater political understanding with Dhaka through connectivity and infrastructure projects and settlement of land and maritime boundaries.
Inaugurating the second edition of Raisina Dialogue, the flagship conference of Indian external affairs ministry at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, Modi said, “India alone cannot walk the path of peace. It is also a journey for Pakistan to make. Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India.”
“Those in our neighbours who support violence, hatred and export terror stand isolated and ignored,” he said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
Pointing out that South Asians are joined by blood, history and culture, Modi said, “My vision for our neighbourhood puts premium on peaceful and harmonious ties with entire South Asia.”
However, while speaking of the compelling logic of connectivity for peace and prosperity, Modi also said, “It cannot override the sovereignty of other nations."
In this context, Modi said, “With Bangladesh, we have achieved greater convergence and political understanding through connectivity and infrastructure projects and significantly the settlement of land and maritime boundaries.”
The Indian PM said, “My vision for our neighbourhood led me to invite leaders of all Saarc neighbours, including Pakistan, for my swearing-in in May, 2014.”
Modi said India's political and economic rise represents a regional and global opportunity of great significance.
He said the multi-polarity of the world and an increasingly multi-polar Asia is a dominant fact today. “We need to guard against any inclination that promotes exclusion, especially in Asia.”
The Indian PM said India's economic and political rise “is a factor for peace, stability and growth in region and in the world".
Modi said in the last two and a half years, his government has partnered almost all of India's neighbours to bring the region together. “Where necessary, we have shed the burdens of our past for the progressive future of our region. The result of our efforts is there to see."