NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said alloutstanding disputes with Pakistan could be resolved throughnegotiations if President Pervez Musharraf fulfils his commitment tostop terrorists from using his country's territory for anti-Indiaactivities.
Speaking at the 'Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative' here, he said South Asia is a sub-continent of great creativity, but it is not being allowed to grow because of India-Pakistan tensions.
"India wants to solve all issues with Pakistan through negotiations," Dr Singh said and added that General Musharraf had assured his predecessor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that any territory within his country would not be allowed to be used by terrorists against India.
"If this assurance is fulfilled, all outstanding issues can be resolved," the Prime Minister said.
During a question-answer session at the conference, Dr Singh said there were three areas of concern for his government agriculture, infrastructure and health and education.
The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had assured the farmers and agriculturalists that they would be given their due position in the development of the country, he said.
"The farmers, who constitute 70 per cent of our country's population, are getting a raw deal," Dr Singh said.
On infrastructure, he said India could grow at a faster rate provided infrastructural facilities are improved.
For achieving this, he said, the railways, ports and telecommunication need a "quantum jump" in"quality and quantity".
In the Human Resources sector, education and healthcare are the two critical areas, which need "greater care", he said.
The two-day conference, inaugurated by the Prime Minister, is being attended by Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and former British Prime Minister John Major.
