India committed to resolving outstanding issues with Pak: Govt

India is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through dialogue but it is necessary to have an environment free of terror to move forward meaningfully, the government told the Rajya Sabha today.

In a written reply to the House, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmad said, "India is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan through dialogue in the interest of peace and prosperity of our people."

He said Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during her recent visit spoke in favour of an "uninterrupted and uninterruptible" dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad and reiterated the same in her speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September.

"It is government's consistently expressed position that it is necessary to have an environment free of terror or threat of terror if relations between India and Pakistan are to move forward concretely and meaningfully," Ahmad said.

Replying to a question on China bagging contracts in Nepal for development works, he said, "The government has seen media reports to this effect. The government is aware of China's enhanced economic and technological capabilities in execution of infrastructure projects in developing countries such as Nepal."

The government closely follows all developments having a bearing on India's national interest and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it, he added.