Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that it will be too premature to say that a solution to the Siachen and Sir Creek issues was imminent.
Addressing a press conference soon after taking off from Philippines, Dr Singh said: "We have to take a holistic view of our relations with Pakistan. We have had several rounds of composite dialogue in which Siachen and Sir Creek issues figured. We are making progress. It will be premature for me to say that we have reached a stage where we can say that an agreement can be found."
In reply to a question whether he would visit Pakistan, the prime minister said that he will be speaking to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee before taking a decision.
"He has just had a successful visit to Pakistan. A future course of action will be determined after I have had a briefing from him," he said.
To a query from rediff.com on how he reconciled India's new global status and farmers' suicides and displacement, Dr Singh said: "The fruits of development have not reached all sections and regions of our country. I am worried about the fact that the growth in the agricultural sector is not what it should be. We have a lot of unfinished business."
He said negotiations on the bilateral agreement to operationalise the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal will commence 'very shortly' during which India's concerns will be taken up.
"There are issues. There are concerns. We have to discuss them with the US administration. Some of these things will be addressed in the 123 (bilateral) agreement on which negotiations will be held very shortly," he said.
The prime minister also spoke on a wide range of issues, including his bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, India's vision for an Asian economic community and on the violence in Assam.
On China, Dr Singh said that Beijing and New Delhi had affirmed to enhance bilateral trade to $40 billion by 2010.
"Both Prime Minister Jiabao and I agreed that the boundary issue should be moved forward and the process of discussion on the issue should be accelerated in the light of the parameters and guiding principles, which we agreed to," he said.
On Assam, the prime minister said: "The government of India is firm on its resolve to work with the government and people to ensure that terrorist groups do not succeed in their nefarious designs. There will be no compromise with these insurgent groups."
"I have met the Myanmar prime minister, who has assured India that whenever effective information is given to them, Myanmar will assist India in tackling insurgent groups taking shelter in that country," he added.
Dr Singh described his Philippines visit as 'purposeful,' 'productive,' and one that had achieved solid results. The prime minister has left for Assam from Kolkata.
