Hand over wanted Indians living in Pakistan if serious about better ties: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said relationship with Pakistan remains "difficult" because it openly practices terrorism against India, and if Islamab is serious to cooperate with New Delhi, it should hand over Indians wanted for terrorist activities living in Pakistan.

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In a wide-ranging interview with French daily Le Monde, minister said Pakistan does t deny sending terrorists to India. " relationship is difficult since many years, mainly because Pakistan has developed an important terrorist industry and sends terrorists to India to carry out attacks. Pakistan itself does t deny this situation," he said, in response to a question about Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's recent statement that relations with India are "close to zero".

"w, tell me: which country would be willing to talk and negotiate with a neighbour who openly practices terrorism against it... We need actions that demonstrate a real willingness to cooperate. "For example, re are Indians wanted for terrorist activities living in Pakistan. We are telling Pakistan: hand m over to us," he said, in a clear reference to criminals like underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

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Dawood, originally from Dongri in Mumbai, is wanted for murder, extortion, targeted killing, drug trafficking, terrorism and various or cases. His name figured in United Nations Security Council's updated list of terrorists and militant groups in 2018. On situation in Kashmir, Jaishankar said "reforms" in August, when India revoked Article 370 to withdraw special status of region, led to some precautionary measures to avert danger of violent reactions from rical and separatist elements but that situation was w returning to rmal.

"se restrictions have been grually reduced, and as situation rmalises, telephone and mobile lines have been restored, shops are open and apple harvest is underway. situation is back to rmal," he said, ding that foreign journalists would be welcome to region as soon as things are safe. Asked about tide of "nationalism" in India, Jaishankar reiterated that India's nationalism should t be viewed through western lens. "Each country has a different understanding of nationalism, a different history. In United States, it has an isolationist contation. In Asia, at least in India, nationalism is a positive word," he said.

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On a question related to tensions arising out of nationalism for mirities, he reiterated: "It is my country that defines my nationality, t my religion, r my caste, r my langu. " concept of nation is different. In India, we are in a sense a civilization state, with natural, linguistic, ethnic and religious diversity. We have never considered uniformity as a necessity or an aspiration. re are few places in world where you will see so many people with so many beliefs co-existing."

In interview which covered a wide spectrum of topics, from India-China relations to India-US dynamic, external affairs minister was categorical about India's growing importance in a world where power will be more dispersed across a range of actors. "We are in a completely different world. We tend to consider post-1945 bipolar world and post-1992 American world as rm. But look at history of world. Things change, thing is engraved in stone. This world will be different, power will be more dispersed, re will be more actors," he said.

Asked if Europe would be one such actor, he ted that India would be in favour of that. "We are a deeply democratic country in a democratic world, Europe must have a greater role," he said. On India and China, minister said that both countries shared a common interest in making world more inclusive and a re-balancing of world requires re-balancing with Asia, and in Asia, which covers primarily with India and China.

"We are two great countries and it is in our common interest to have good relationships," he said.

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