Never said Krishna was always on phone: Qureshi

After making carping comments on his talks with S M Krishna, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said he never stated that his Indian counterpart was on the phone with New Delhi during their parleys on Thursday.

He, however, claimed that other members of the Indian delegation were receiving instructions on phone from New Delhi throughout the parleys.

"I never said Krishna himself was making calls (to New Delhi)," Qureshi told reporters at the Foreign Office last night after addressing a joint news conference with visiting British Minister Sayeeda Warsi.

The Pakistan foreign minister was responding to a question on the war of words that erupted between him and Krishna in the wake of the talks on July 15 during which sharp differences arose over a roadmap and timeframe for future engagements.

Qureshi contended that whenever he and Krishna agreed on any issue during their talks here on Thursday, a member of the Indian delegation would leave the room to confer with New Delhi and seek instructions.

The Indian delegate, who left the room, would then return and convey a message to Krishna, he said.

The Indian side would then say that the matter that had been raised was outside their "restricted mandate," Qureshi said.

The Pakistan foreign minister said there were about 15 to 20 people in the room where the talks were being held and they could vouch for his comments.

Qureshi further said that he and Krishna had "agreed on many issues" during informal talks over dinner the night before their parleys.

However, things changed during the formal talks on July 15, he said.

He further clarified that he had not said that Krishna had come to Islamabad with no mandate. "What I said is that he had a restricted mandate," Qureshi said.

When Pakistan was prepared to listen to all issues raised by India, why was New Delhi not prepared to listen to Islamabad's concerns, Qureshi wondered.

Qureshi also said he did not have "any doubt" about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Krishna's positive attitude and desire to improve relations with Pakistan.

The Pakistani foreign minister's comments on Friday that Krishna had repeatedly received instructions from New Delhi during their talks had sparked a heated response from the Indian side.

Krishna had made it clear that he had never spoken on phone during the parleys but said it was the usual practice for Foreign Ministers to be in touch with their governments during diplomatic discussions.