KRISHNA 2LST

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 Indian Home
secretary G K 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 Lashkar-e-Toiba 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. PTI