'No third-party mediation in Indo-Pak dialogue'

New Delhi, Feb 24: Rejecting any third party role in talks with Pakistan, India has said that dialogue will only be at the bilateral level.

Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday, Feb 23, said "We don't favour involvement of any third country in our talks with Pakistan. It will only be bilateral."

He was reacting to a statement made by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi that China had been offered a 'blank cheque' to adopt a role in Indo-Pak affairs.

Addressing a conference in Beijing, Qureshi said Islamabad would welcome any role given to China to bring down tensions between India and Pakistan.

"It is for the Indians to decide if they would be comfortable to have China talking as a third party to bridge the gap. As far as Pakistan is concerned, they (China) have a blank cheque," he said at the Chinese think tank.

OneIndia News