India wants good relations with Islamabad: Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said the nation is outraged by Pakistan's ceasefire violations and brutal killing and mutilation of its soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC), but the country wants peace and good relations with "all of its neighbours", including Pakistan.

"Pakistan committed an inhuman act on the LoC on January 8. We have told Pakistan that this could affect bilateral relations. We want good relations with our neighbours, but Pakistan should also take steps in this direction," said Singh at the All India Congress Committee meeting held in Jaipur.

Earlier, Singh had warned that it 'could not be business as usual' with Pakistan after the gruesome crime committed by the Pakistani troop.

The tension de-escalated last week after a meeting of the DGMOs (Director General of Military Operations) from both sides

Singh said: "We take a consistent review of our ties with Pakistan. We have made clear that the incident can cast a negative impact on our bilateral ties. We will take steps with due care and consideration.

"We want friendship with Pakistan. It is not possible only because we want it or because of our efforts," the Prime Minister said.

His remarks were greeted by applause from the gathering of delegates at AICC which was presided by party chief Sonia Gandhi with party vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Lance Naik Hemraj was beheaded by Pakistani soldiers in a cross-Line of Control (LoC) attack in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8.