Indian president calls for friendship with neighbors, rejects militants

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Friday said India offers friendship to its neighbors but rejects the use terrorism by forces inimical to the country or any attempt to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

"While we offer our hand willingly in friendship, we cannot stay blind to deliberate acts of provocation and a deteriorating security environment. India is a target of vicious terrorist groups operating from across the borders," he said in his address to the nation on the eve of 69th Independence Day.

"We reject any attempt to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Infiltration into our territory and attempts to create mayhem will be dealt with a strong hand," he said.

He also called for the binding of nations with peace, friendship and cooperation and called for strengthening of connectivity, expanding institutional capacity and enhancing mutual trust to further regional cooperation.

"As we make progress in advancing our interests globally, India is also engaged in pro-actively promoting goodwill and prosperity in our immediate neighborhood," he said.

He hailed the solving of the land boundary issue with Bangladesh this year after a long period of dispute between the two neighbors.