Imran Khan (ANI/Twitter)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said he wanted strong relationship with India and was ready to take two steps if New Delhi took one.

Speaking at the ceremony to lay foundation for Kartarpur corridor on the Pakistan side , Imran said, "If France and Germany who fought several wars can live in peace, why not India and Pakistan."

Imran said that Pakistan wanted a civilized relationship with India and claimed that the civilian and military leadership in Islamabad were on the same page on the issue.

"I, the prime minister, my political party, the rest of our political parties, our army, all our institutions are all on one page. We want to move forward," Imran said.

However, the Pak PM was silent on the issue of terrorism that has derailed the dialogue between the two neighbours.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj earlier today made it very clear that there will be no dialogue with Pakistan unless it desists from terrorist activities against India.

"Unless and until Pakistan stops terrorist activities in India there will be no dialogue and we will not participate in SAARC," Swaraj said at a press conference.

India also made it clear that the Kartarpur initiative could not be linked to talks between the countries.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who attended the ceremony, said "The mistrust between India and Pakistan can be removed through revisiting the message of peace and love."

Speaking on the occasion Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said, violence must be stopped and peace should be restored between India and Pakistan. He described the Kartarpur Corridor as a major opportunity to open the hearts of the people in the two neighbouring countries.

Imran Khan heaped praise on Sidhu and assured the Sikh community that facilities at Kartarpur will be better for 550th birth celebrations for Guru Nanak Dev.

Read also: Timeline: Kartarpur corridor foundation stone laid after two decades of wait

