Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is any difference of opinion between the officials in the Ministry with those officials in the Home Ministry on the issue of Hedley as alleged by a group of media which is in fact evident from the statement of Home Secretary during the recent visit of Minister of External Affairs to Islamabad; and
(b) whether it is a fact that the officials in the External Affairs Ministry were not prepared properly for bilateral discussions with Pakistan as stated by the Pakistan External Affairs Minister?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI S.M. KRISHNA)

(a) & (b) All the concerned Ministries of the Government of India work closely in a coordinated manner on such critical matters. The mandate for Foreign Minister level talks with Pakistan on July 15, 2010 was approved in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security held before the visit of the External Affairs Minister to Pakistan. The Indian delegation was fully prepared for the talks held on July 15, 2010.
http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220116335.

Rajya Sabha

Miscellaneous

South Asia