Can't score debating points over Qureshi: Krishna

New Delhi, Jul 16: In a sharp contrast to the Pakistan Foreign Minister, SM Qureshi's press conference just a few hours back, India's External Affairs Minister made an extremely diplomatic statement in a press briefing here.

In his statement, SM Krishna said that during his first visit to Pakistan as the External Affairs Minister he and his delegation spoke to the Pakistani counterparts on burning issues of mutual consent.

"We reviewed the current state of bilateral relations," a diplomatic Krishna said, adding that India has yet again stressed on the need for effective action against terrorism directed against India.

He also said that it was conveyed to India that they needed to act on terrorism to normalise bilateral ties.

As expected the the reporters bombarded the minister with questions seeking his response to the earlier statements given by Pak Foreign Minister SM Qureshi.

"I am not going to score debating points over foreign minister Qureshi," SM Krishna said, in response to a question on whether Indian mandate was limited and not flexible.

He also denied that he was ever on phone, and retorted to the personal attack launched against him by his Pakistani counterpart that Krishna was unprepared and that he constantly took orders from New Delhi through phone by labelling it an "extraordinary statement".

Qureshi had earlier accused India of being "selective" in its approach and branded it "not read for talks".

This came as a huge blow to all those who have been supporting the dialogue and peace process between the two countries especially after it was frozen following the Mumbai terror attacks in Nov 2008.

OneIndia News