No breakthrough, public spat: Pak blames India

New Delhi: After a marathon six hours of talks yesterday, India and Pakistan agreed that there would be more talks. But what the countries would talk about is still a point of contention. MEA sources say the levels of expectation at the talks were different. (Read: Indo-Pak talks - After 6-hour-long meeting, differences in public | Indo-Pak talks in pics)

Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi today slammed what he called India's selective approach to talks and demanded composite dialogue. Sources here say India is ready for substantive dialogue, but terrorism will remain the main focus. And that it is not possible to resume composite dialogue on other issues yet. (Read: India selective, not fully ready for talks, says Pak)

The widening gap

Qureshi's latest remarks came even before his counterpart and guest SM Krishna had left Pakistan, not normal diplomatic behaviour, MEA sources say. He even took a dig at Krishna, saying he kept getting calls from Delhi throughout their talks. "Not once did I leave to take a phone call," Qureshi added. A surprised Krishna has since denied being on the phone with New Delhi during the talks.

Seeking to blame India for a "last-minute hitch" in talks, Qureshi said New Delhi appeared to be unwilling to commit to a roadmap for future engagement and made it clear that the dialogue cannot move forward if Kashmir is not discussed. "We wanted that we should have a roadmap for the future at the end this discussion and they felt they did not have the mandate to commit to a roadmap."

"Kashmir has been part of our negotiations. It is a disputed territory. It is not possible to delink Kashmir from the negotiations", he said. Qureshi added it would not make sense to discuss aspects like cultural and trade relations while ignoring "core" issues like Jammu and Kashmir, peace and security and Siachen.

MEA sources say India "didn't rule out having dialogue on J&K, Siachen etc, but there is a warming up process needed."

Qureshi had said India was "narrowing the dialogue" and Pakistan had made it clear that "you cannot be selective in discussions". The issues between India and Pakistan were already identified and part of the eight segments of the composite dialogue that had continued for four years, he said. "If they want to confine those issues, it becomes difficult for Pakistan."

That "last-minute hitch," which Qureshi elaborately explained was not "from Pakistan's side," was evident soon after the pleasantries had duly been dispensed with at yesterday's joint press conference. Words like "frank, cordial and useful talks" had soon given way to sharp interjections and exchanges as obvious differences on issues like cross-border infiltration, Jammu and Kashmir and Balochistan came to the fore.

Anger at attack on Pillai

Then, Qureshi attacked India's Home Secretary GK Pillai for his comments on an ISI role in the 26/11 attacks, tellingly in answer to a question on what Pakistan was doing to curb the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, Hafiz Saeed, from making hate speeches against India. Qureshi said he had discussed Pillai's comments with Krishna and that the latter agreed they were "uncalled for." (Read: Pillai's remarks uncalled for, says Pakistan)

Krishna, who was sitting next to Qureshi at the time, did not say anything. That silence has escalated into a giant political controversy with the BJP demanding to know why Krishna did not defend Pillai right there.

The Foreign Minister eventually did defend the Home Secretary, once back on Indian soil today. Krishna said it was wrong of Qureshi to equate remarks made by Pillai  to hate speeches made against India by Hafiz Saeed.

"Where is the question of comparison between the two statements? Hafiz Saeed is a person who has been speaking out of turn against India. He has been crying for jihad against India. We have always said such people in Pakistan who incite hostile anti-India propaganda will not help to smoothen the relationship between the two countries. Pillai is supposed to have made a statement to a newspaper which certainly contains whatever has been told to us through our interaction with David Headley," said Krishna.

The BJP and the Congress too have both slammed Qureshi for trying to equate comments made by India's Home Secretary, GK Pillai, to hate speeches by Hafiz Saeed, the man who India believes masterminded its worst-ever terror attack, 26/11.

Call off talks, says BJP

The BJP said that it regrets that as Qureshi slammed Pillai, Krishna did not defend him. The Foreign Affairs Minister must explain his silence, said former External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha. (Watch: Krishna should have contradicted Pak FM: Yashwant Sinha) The BJP also wants the government to call off talks with Pakistan. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Why should India talk under pressure. We cannot have talks at any cost' Pakistan has no desire to tackle terrorism." (Watch: Regret Krishna did not defend Pillai, says BJP)

Congress spokesperson, Abhishek Singhvi, said, "The Home Secretary was simply making a statement of fact about what India's stand has been. There is no basis of comparison for remarks made by the Home Secretary to those made by Hafiz Saeed... that would be ridiculous."   Singhvi also noted that Krishna has not confirmed Qureshi's remarks that both the ministers were of the opinion that Pillai's comments on ISI's role in 26/11 were "uncalled" for. (Watch: Congress, BJP slam Pak comments on Home Secretary | Hafiz-Pillai comparison ridiculous: Congress)

Pillai's, in an interview to the Indian Express, said that David Coleman Headley, arrested by the US for planning and executing 26/11, had disclosed, "ISI had a much more significant role to play in Mumbai attacks... ISI was literally controlling and coordinating the attacks from the beginning till the end." Headley was interrogated in America recently by Indian officials.

The BJP says the talks with Pakistan are pointless. "Yesterday, your channel showed how much aggressive infiltration took place by Pak rangers in Poonch area of Kashmir. Qureshi making issue of a statement by Pillai on what Headley said about ISI - they have no reply on content, they are comparing him with Hafiz Saeed! Mr Krishna went to Pak against public opinion in the country... unless Pak delivers action on 26/11, no worthwhile exchange can occur," said Prasad to NDTV.

MEA sources point out that, "We cannot wish away Pakistan." Also that, "When dealing with Pakistan, hope for the best, expect the worst."