'Pak, India can jointly dismantle terror camps'

Following United States President Barack Obama's statement in India that Washington will not tolerate safe havens for terrorists, Pakistan on Monday said it is willing to engage constructively with India and collectively work to dismantle terror machines in response to New Delhi's call to stop supporting terrorism.

"Pakistan is willing to engage with India. Pakistan has constructive approach and we feel collectively we can dismantle these terror machines," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

Speaking to an Indian television channel, soon after the joint press conference by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Obama, Qureshi said terrorists have their tentacles spread all over the world and one should not be selective towards a particular country.

"Terrorist machines and terrorist networks exist all over the world. They have tentacles spread all over the world. There are organisations, which are trying to undermine many societies, many cultures in many countries. We all are suffering so we can't be selective and specific towards a particular country," Qureshi said. "It is a global phenomenon and we have to deal with it collectively and no one can tackle it on its own."

Noting that the democratically elected government in Pakistan condemns terrorism, Qureshi said, "We will not allow Pakistani soil to be used against anyone, that includes India."

"We are willing to cooperate with India and the rest of the world in dealing with any organisation that creates violence," he added.

The Pakistan FM said dialogue is the need of the hour. "I think Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh means well. Foreign Minister Krishna means well. I have always advocating normalisation. Both countries stand to gain if there is stability," Qureshi said.

Earlier in New Delhi, Dr Singh said that India was committed to engaging with Pakistan and resolve all outstanding issues, "including the K-word (reference to Kashmir) and we are not afraid of that."

"But it is our request that you cannot simultaneously be talking and at the same time the terror machine in Pakistan is active as ever before. Once Pakistan moves away from terror-induced coercion, we will be very happy to engage productively with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues," Dr Singh said.

When asked if Pakistan felt marginalised by the fact that Obama's visit did not include Islamabad, Qureshi said, "We are happy with the visit. United States can play a positive role in stabilising the region. We are not at all feeling marginalised and we are happy about it," he said adding that Obama will visit Pakistan next year.