Islamabad:
All the bonhomie could not take away from the sting of Pakistan's reaction to Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai's statement yesterday linking the ISI to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Pillai's remarks were based on information from the interrogation of Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley.
These comments "uncalled for," Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi said curtly at a joint press conference he held with his Indian counterpart SM Krishna. Qureshi said Pillai's comments had been discussed during his talks with Krishna and claimed both agreed they were "uncalled for". Krishna, who sat beside him, said nothing to that. (
Watch: Pakistan slams Pillai's ISI remarks)
Qureshi brought up the Pillai comments in response to a question from an Indian journalist on the steps Pakistan was taking to prevent 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saaed from making repeated hate speeches against India.
The press conference began on an extremely cordial note, but mid-way the tenor seemed to change.
Earlier, Krishna said Pakistan had assured India that investigations into the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, taking into account the latest information got from the interrogation of David Headley, would be pursued rigourously to bring all perpetrators to justice. The Foreign minister said if Pakistan took action based on Headley's leads, that would be the biggest confidence building measure.
Krishna said he had also been assured that steps were being taken to speed up the trial of all the accused in the Mumbai terror attacks in Pakistan.
"I have conveyed that effective action against terror and all effort by Pakistan to fulfill the commitment by PM Gilani in Thimpu not to allow Pakistan-based terror to be used against India, would go a long way in building trust...Qureshi has assured me that the Paksitan government will do everything in its power to fulfill commitments," Krishna said.
(Read: On peace process, ball now in India's court: Gilani)Qureshi, however, was quick to react to Krishna's statement on cross-border infiltration, saying "infiltration is not a policy of the Government of Pakistan or any intelligence agency of Pakistan."
(Watch: Pakistan would follow-up leads given by India)These and a few other points of overt disagreement, like the Balochistan issue and open differences over Jammu and Kashmir, came after much talk of cooperation. (
Watch: No shred of evidence against India on Baluchistan, says Krishna)
Krishna said India was committed to being a sincere partner in establishing peaceful relations with Pakistan and desired a peaceful stable and prosperous neighbour. And he announced that Qureshi would visit India.
Both leaders said they had discussed steps to promote trust and confidence.
"We had a frank, candid talk on where we stand," was the way Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi described the day-long talks.
India and Pakistan, he said, were both victims of terrorism and there was a recognition that this menace had to be dealt with. Qureshi said the day's discussions were useful in creating an understanding how to move forwrad, paving the way for further dialogue.
Dialogue, he said, was the only way forward and the two leaders discussed ways to bridge the trust deficit. "We cannot bridge trust deficit without engaging," he said.
The two ministers met at the Pakistan Foreign Office for nearly three hours on Thursday morning, which included a working lunch, after which they were scheduled to hold the joint press conference.
However, it was decided that they would meet once again later in the day and then hold the press conference later in the evening. The press conference was delayed by several hours. (
Watch: Pak must follow Headley's 26/11 leads: Krishna)
This morning's talks focused on a host of bilateral issues with India flagging its concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistan and pressing for action against those involved in Mumbai terror attacks, particularly in the light of revelations by Pakistani-American LeT operative David Headley.
The Foreign Ministers met with an aim to restore trust and increase confidence in bilateral ties, with New Delhi seeking strong action against those involved in 26/11 terror attacks, based on the inputs provided by Headley.
Both Krishna and Qureshi were accompanied by senior officials.
While Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Joint Secretary in-charge of Pakistan in the Ministry of External Affairs Yash Sinha were part of Krishna's team, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Spokesman Abdul Basit were part of Qureshi's delegation.
The talks are the second between the Foreign Ministers since the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead. They had earlier met in New York in September last year. (With PTI inputs)