Tharoor's statement inconsistent with diplomatic norms: Pakistan

Islamabad, July 24 (ANI): Pakistan on Friday taking serious notice of the remarks made Indian External Affairs Minister of State Shashi Tharoor regarding the joint statement issued following meeting between the prime ministers of two countries in Sharm El-Sheikh said, such statements are inconsistent with diplomatic norms.

The Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit while commenting on Tharoor's remarks about Pakistan, as reported in Indian media said: "The insinuations made by Tharoor were unwarranted and inconsistent with diplomatic norms."

The spokesman added that both sides should refrain from remarks that detract from the progress made in Sharm-El-Sheikh.

Tharoor had said that the India-Pakistan joint statement issued in Egypt a few days ago is a "diplomatic paper" and not a legal document.

"It is a diplomatic paper that is released to the Press different from legal papers. Ultimately what matters is not the perception of words on paper, it is the conduct of government," Tharoor said while talking to reporters outside parliament on Thursday.e said the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had made his stance on talks in the joint statement "very clear".

"We have said that India cannot go for a composite dialogue with Pakistan, until and unless we have we have absolute assurances and we have seen credible action from Pakistan." (ANI)