INDO-PAK 2 LST

Krishna rejected Pakistan's contention that India 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.
He rebuffed Qureshi for comparing Indian Home
Secretary G K Pillai with JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, saying there
was "absolutely no comparison" between the two.
Responding to the Pakistan Minister's contention that
the Indian delegation had a limited mandate to discuss issue,
Krishna said "I had a clear mandate...
"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."
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 go 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 Measures (CBMs),"
he said.
With regard to Mumbai attack investigations, he said
that Pakistan never gave any timeline but he had clearly
told Qureshi 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.
Asked about Qureshi's comparison of Home Secretary G K
Pillai's remarks that as per revelation by Pakistani-American
terrorist David Headley, ISI was involved in Mumbai terror
attacks, with LeT operative Hafiz 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.
To a question on 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