Indo-Pak ties improving: PM

Declaring that peace and stability in the region was the "key objective" of India's foreign policy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said resolute efforts were being made to improve ties with Pakistan and these have started yielding "positive results".

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha, he expressed confidence that all outstanding issues with Pakistan would be resolved through dialogue.

"We have been working purposefully for all-round improvement of relations with Pakistan," Singh said while delving on the foreign policy of his government. Underlining that India needs "long-lasting peace, friendship and amity" with Pakistan, he said, "Efforts we have made are beginning to bring positive results. We will work resolutely (in this direction)."

The prime minister said while striving for friendly and mutually-beneficial relations with its immediate neighbours, India's ties with all other countries, including the US, Russia and China, had grown over the last three years covering many new areas.