Among the many complaints voiced by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday against his Indian counterpart S M Krishna was that he had "repeatedly" received directions from Delhi during their talks, a suggestion rejected by the External Affairs Minister.
Taking a dig at Krishna, Qureshi said he had "repeatedly" received directions from New Delhi during their talks, suggesting that the Indian Minister had limited mandate for the parleys.
Qureshi, who was acerbic during a press conference in Islamabad, said "I led Pakistan's team and I didn't need to make even a single phone call (to Pakistan leaders) during the day-long talks. Krishna is the principal for giving direction to foreign policy (but) why were directions being sent repeatedly from Delhi?"
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. PTI
