Timing of Pillai's remarks "very unfortunate": Krishna

From Priyanka Tikoo
New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Days after Indo-Pak talks ended
in sharp differences, Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna Wednesday broke his silence over the controversy
surrounding Home Secretary G K Pillai's remarks on ISI's
involvement in Mumbai attacks, describing their timing as
"very unfortunate".
Clearly unhappy with Pillai's statement a day ahead of
his visit to Pakistan to hold talks with his Pakistani
counterpart S M Qureshi, Krishna said if he was the Home
Secretary, he would not have spoken about the revelations by
Pakistani-American David Headley.
Factually, Pillai was "very much in order" in speaking
about the disclosures made by Headley to FBI and Indian
interrogators but "the timing was something which was very
unfortunate," Krishna told PTI in an interview here.
His whole visit to Pakistan was "under-pinned" by the
remarks by the Home Secretary and these had become a "factor"
with Pakistan, he said, apparently meaning that the remarks
had created a negative environment.
The Minister disclosed that he discussed Pillai's
comments with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh whom he had
briefed on his parleys with Qureshi and other leaders.
He insisted that the government was speaking in one
voice on Pakistan and said he was "glad" that Home Ministry
has now announced the appointment of a spokesperson. In recent
months, Pillai has been briefing the media.
Disagreeing with the perception that his discussion with
Qureshi had ended in a deadlock, Krishna said he was "quite
satisfied" with his visit which has bridged the trust deficit
"to some extent."
Answering questions about Qureshi's undiplomatic remarks
after the talks and if he was willing to ignore such
behaviour, Krishna said "I am willing to mind my business and
concentrate on my work."
However, he dismissed as "ridiculous" the comparison
sought to be drawn by Qureshi between JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's
anti-India statement and Pillai's remarks on ISI.
The Minister said the minute details of how the "whole
conspiracy of 26/11 was hatched and executed" showed the
"diabolical nature of the conspiracy".
The fact that these details had come out during
interrogation of Headley by FBI put much more onus on Pakistan
to act against the conspirators, he said. MORE PTI PYK
MYR


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