In remarks made public on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that his country desired cordial ties with its neighbor to the west. When asked about relations with India’s bitter foe Pakistan, Modi stated that although India desires “normal and neighbourly relations,” Islamabad has a responsibility to foster an atmosphere devoid of “terrorism and hostilities”.
Before his trip to Japan to attend the G7 conference, Modi told Nikkei Asia in an interview, “The responsibility is on Pakistan to take necessary steps in this regard.”
Since New Delhi altered the status of Jammu and Kashmir state, abolished its special privileges, and turned it into a federal territory in 2019, ties between India and Pakistan have remained frozen.
In a rare statement since relations with Beijing soured in 2020, he stressed that peace along India’s border with China is necessary for normal relations.
The relationship between nuclear-armed neighbours can only be built on respect, sensitivity, and shared interests, according to Modi. “India is fully committed and prepared to protect its territorial integrity and dignity.”
As the Japanese special guest for the summit, Modi landed in Hiroshima on Friday. The session will go till Sunday. “Peace and tranquilly in border regions are essential for healthy bilateral ties with China,” he said, adding that improving relations with China would be advantageous for the rest of the globe and the region.
Since the two nations’ armies battled in 2020, killing 24 soldiers, on their disputed Himalayan border, relations between the two have deteriorated. The conflict between India and China was the bloodiest in more than 40 years. Modi will attend a meeting of the Quad members, which seeks to curb China’s increasing aggressiveness in the Indo-Pacific, alongside the presidents of the United States, Japan, and Australia on the fringes of the G7 conference.
