New Delhi: The Congress and the BJP on Sunday made it clear that there was no scope for a third party in India-Pakistan relations.
Commenting on Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor`s remarks on Saudi Arabia`s potential as an interlocutor in India`s ties with Pakistan, a source close to Congress president Sonia Gandhi said: "India`s position on no to third party mediation in India-Pakistan issues is unchanged. There is no change in the Congress position."
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi termed Tharoor`s remarks "unusual" and reiterated India`s known stand that no third party can intervene in issues between India and Pakistan.
Tharoor, who is with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Riyadh, said: "We feel Saudi Arabia has a long and close relationship with Pakistan and that makes Saudi Arabia a more valuable interlocutor to us."
He was asked if India will seek Saudi support to influence Pakistan to address Indian concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistani territory.
As a mini storm erupted over Tharoor`s remarks, he clarified that India`s desire to seek Riyadh`s support on terrorism related issues with Islamabad did not mean giving it the role of a mediator in India-Pakistan disputes.
He said he had never used the word mediation or mediator while talking about a possible Saudi role.
"No chance of my saying Saudi Arabia should be a mediator... Never said that or anything like it," Tharoor said a couple of hours after the media publicised his earlier remarks.
India is firmly opposed to any third party role in its relations with Pakistan.
IANS
