Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday dismissed the impression that efforts to improve ties with the US marked a radical policy shift and affirmed that there was no change in the basic objectives in the foreign policy.
"Sometimes confusion is sought to be created that there has been a change in foreign policy. In terms of our basic objectives, there is no change," he told a Congress party convention at the Kerala PCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram in the CPI-M ruled state.
The Left parties, which provide crucial outside support to the UPA coalition at the Centre, have serious differences over the government's foreign policy, accusing it of having a pro-US tilt.
India wanted the goodwill and cooperation of big powers like the US, Russia and China but this did not mean there was a shift from the basic policies followed since the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, Singh said adding there was some change in flexibility of tactics as needed by the times.
He said the country was only seeking to widen the horizon of its international role while trying to improve ties with neighbours including Pakistan despite the problem of terrorism.
"We are trying to develop friendly ties with Pakistan despite difficulties arising out of their support for terrorist operations directed against India," Manmohan Singh said.
India, he said, wished for peace and prosperity of its neighbours but at the same time it was looking at the other regions like Central Asia.
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