Singh offers talks to APHC

NEW DELHI (AFP/Reuters) - Indias Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Wednesday his government would take stern action to stamp out rights abuses in Kashmir and offered talks with APHC leaders in the disputed region.
If there is any violation of human rights, we will take effective action, Singh said while returning from a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
The government is committed to zero tolerance of human rights violations, he told accompanying reporters.
The warning came in response to questions on protests last month over the suspected rape and murder of two local Muslim women in Occupied Kashmir, allegedly by members of the Indian troopers.
The Indian Prime Minister described the rape and murder as very unfortunate, the Press Trust of India reported.
Once the new central government settles down, it will take a fresh look at the problems, Singh said, adding that he was ready to hold talks with regional politicians as well as All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders in Kashmir.
We would be happy to engage in dialogue with any group which is interested in talking. That option remains.
We will welcome even those who are not in the political mainstream and if they have any views, they are welcome to give (them), he said.
I have not given up hope on Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said, noting that in recent years he held two rounds of talks with Kashmirs APHC.
We are willing to engage in dialogue with anyone who is ready to shun violence, the Prime Minister said in an apparent olive branch to hardline leaders in the Conference.
The promise came less than a week after Home Minister P Chidambaram promised to phase out the presence of large numbers of troops from towns across Muslim-majority Kashmir.
Singh described Chidambarams announcement as an important statement.
Earlier, Manmohan Singh said that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had sought more time to act against anti-India militants because Islamabads fight with the Taliban had entered a crucial phase.
He did mention to me the difficulties Pakistan is facing in controlling terrorism and asked us to bear with him, to give him some more time, Singh told reporters on his way back from Russias Yekaterinburg, where the two leaders met on Tuesday.
Singhs comments came a day after he urged Zardari to ensure Pakistan was not used to launch attacks on India.
Their meeting, the first since last years attacks on Mumbai, marked a tentative thaw in relations but stopped well short of reopening a peace process that India had put on hold after the Mumbai assault.
I explained to him that whereas now Pakistan has taken effective action against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, we have a strong feeling that those elements who are active in perpetrating terrorist acts in our country ... (are) not being brought to justice, Singh said.
He said India would not close channels of communication with Pakistan and would continue to try to make peace with it.
We have often said we can choose our friends, we have to live with our neighbours, and therefore, it is obligatory on us not to close channels of communication, Singh said.
Singhs comments hold out prospects of more talks between officials of the two countries and their leaderships.
An Indian official told Reuters on Tuesday Singh and Zardari would meet in July in Egypt, which is hosting the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
Singh said if the Pakistani leadership shows courage, determination and statesmanship to take the high road to peace, India will meet it more than half the way.
I have spoken before also about my vision of a cooperative sub-continent and the vital interest people of the sub-continent have in peace. For this, we must try again to make peace with Pakistan, he said.
It is essential that strong and effective steps are taken by Pakistan against the enemies of peace, Singh told Indian journalists accompanying him on his way back from Russia.
Pakistan should act against anti-India terror groups with (the) same determination as it was showing in dealing with Taliban, he added, describing relations with Pakistan as under great stress.
The foreign secretaries of the two countries are scheduled to meet in June, and Singh said he would review developments then.
Let us wait for the outcome of the meeting of foreign secretaries.