“Stop terror first,” says Krishna,ignores Pak jibes

India on Friday rejected Pakistan’s contention that it was not ready to discuss all issues and asserted that all “core” and “burning” problems were deliberated upon with the aim of reducing trust deficit.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna rebuffed his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi for comparing Home Secretary G K Pillai with JuD chief Hafiz Saeed,saying there was “absolutely no comparison” between the two.

He also indicated that Qureshi may be speaking an untruth when he said that the Indian Foreign Minister disturbed the proceedings by repeatedly going out to speak on his phone while the talks with his Pak counter-part were going on.

Krishna said that he never used the phone during the talks as his mandate was clear and needed no further discussions with New Delhi.

Hours after Qureshi accused the Indian delegation to the Foreign Ministers’ meeting yesterday in Islamabad of carrying a limited mandate to discuss issues,Krishna said that “our mandate was very clear”.

Krishna evinced surprise at the undiplomatic language of Pak FM Qureshi.

“There was no ambiguity. As External Affairs Minister leading this delegation,I have confined myself to the mandate given to me and I am quite satisfied,” he told reporters at the IGI airport here shortly on arrival from Islamabad.

To a question on what were the gains of his visit,Krishna said,”the very fact that I went to Islamabad and I talked about core issues in our relationship…if you consider it as a gain,I am ready to along with it.

“We talked about some of the burning issues that confront the two countries. To that extent that we have contributed in a manner where the trust deficit is getting reduced as part of the Confidence Building Measure,” he said.

Krishna refuted Qureshi’s claim that Indian delegation was not mentally prepared for the talks. “I was fully prepared,” he said.

With regard to Mumbai attack investigations,he said that India had not insisted on any time-line but had clearly told Pakistan that unless the issue of terrorism is addressed,”all other efforts will be futile”.

He said Pakistan has been told that terrorism is the “biggest obstacle” in normalising relations between the two countries.

“As long as this is not met,all other efforts would be futile. Hence,it is in the interest of this particular relationship,if it has to be strengthened,then positive,focused action will have to be taken by the leadership of Pakistan in tackling those perpetrators of these heinous crimes in Mumbai,” he said.

Asked about Qureshi’s comparison of Pillai’s remarks with Saeed’s anti-India speeches,the Minister shot back,”where is the question of comparison between the two statements?

“Hafiz Saeed is a person who has been speaking out of turn against India. He has been crying for Jihad against India and we have always said that such people in Pakistan who incite hostile and anti-India propaganda will not smoothen relationship,” he said.

Pillai has supposed to have made a statement which certainly contains whatever has been told to India during interrogation of LeT operative David Headley in the US.

Krishna rebutted Qureshi’s claim that he was constantly on telephone line with New Delhi during talks.

Describing Qureshi’s statement as “extraordinary”,he said he was “totally cut-off” from India and never used the telephone.

“I have not spoken to anybody. The mandate given to me was so precise,so clear,that it does not need any additional instructions from Delhi,” he said.

But,he maintained,that even if he had used the telephone,in diplomacy it was not wrong in keeping touch with the base.

“Foreign Ministers are always in touch with their base,with the political leadership and governmental leadership. There is nothing wrong even if something has happened on these lines,” he said.

To another of Qureshi’s aside on lack of clear mandate to Indian delegation,he said “I am not going to score debating points with Qureshi. I would like to concentrate on serious issues. We did discuss issues that are of concern to both of us. We have made some headway.”

Asked whether back-channel diplomacy would be preferred in the light of stalemate in talks,he said that it is something that will have to be evaluated.

“I have invited Qureshi to India. I am looking forward to resuming the dialogue from where we left,” he said.

When refered to Qureshi’s insistence on time-bound approach to resolving issues,Krishna said it was not clear as to what Pakistan Foreign Minister meant by that statement.

“Knowing the complexity of the problems we had discussed,I do not think that it would be prudent for anybody to insist on a timeframe,” he said.

In his opening statement,Krishna said he had cordial,frank and useful exchange of views with Qureshi.

“Our extensive and serious discussions extended beyond schedule. We discussed steps to promote trust and confidence so as to pave the way for serious,comprehensive and sustained dialogue on all issues of mutual interest and concern,” he said.

Krishna said talks enabled the two sides to understand each other’s positions.

During his meetings with Pakistan leadership,Krishna said his interactions with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani brought forth the desire on both sides to normalise relationship to bring peace and prosperity in the region.

He found a similar desire during his meetings with leaders of political parties,including MQM,ANPM and PML(N).

He said he conveyed to interlocutors the need for effective action against terrorism directed against India.

He also stressed on the need for Pakistan to fulfil its assurances not to allow its territory to be used against India saying it will go a long way in building trust and confidence.

Krishna said Qureshi assured him that Pakistan will do all its power to fulfill its commitment not to allow its soil to be used against India.

On his arrival back in India,Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna answered journalist’s queries.

Here are his comments:

Our talks enabled us to develop better understanding of each others perspectives,says External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on talks with his Pak counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Where is the question of comparison between the statements of Home Secretary G K Pillai and JuD chief Hafiz Sayeed,says Krishna.

There is absolutely no comparison between the statements of Pillai and Sayeed,says Krishna.

Krishna refutes Qureshi’s claim that he was constantly on phone with New Delhi during discussions; says he has not spoken to anybody in Delhi during the talks.

Unless terrorism is not addressed,all other efforts will be futile,says Krishna.

Trust deficit with Pakistan getting reduced,says Krishna.

Qureshi did not propose any timeline for Mumbai attacks investigations,says Krishna.