‘India wants to be friends, but Pakistan, China have sin in their minds’

Panaji, Aug 22 (IANS) India is making all efforts to ensure friendly relations with neighbouring countries, but some countries like Pakistan and China have "sin" in their minds, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said on Monday.

"There is sin in the minds of our neighbouring countries... in Pakistan's mind, in China's mind. That is why we have to deploy the armed forces and para-military force on the borders," Ahir told a press conference at the state BJP headquarters here in Panaji.

Ahir is in Goa to lead the Tiranga Janswamvad Yatra in the coastal state ruled by Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition.

Ahir also said that right from the time Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, it was the latter's endeavour to boost relations with neighbouring countries "from Bhutan, to Nepal to Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, he even went to China".

He also said that despite best efforts by India to develop friendly relations, "some countries continued to have a crooked mindset".