New Delhi, July 10: The Congress today said the Narendra Modi government had no roadmap for engagement with Pakistan and its "fits and starts" approach had raised serious question marks on India's foreign policy.

The Congress also declared its opposition to what it claimed was a shift in the policy on Palestine, asserting such a drastic change in the traditional stand was not unacceptable.

Responding to the joint statement after the meeting between Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif in Russia today, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma alleged a dilution of India's stand against Pakistan's intransigence in the Mumbai attacks case.

Sharma claimed the government had conceded Pakistan's point that enough proof had not been provided by India. "The fifth point of the joint statement says, 'Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples'. We had given all the evidence, not only to Pakistan but also to the UN and friendly countries after a thorough investigation in the case."

Sharma argued that "by agreeing to provide additional information, we have diluted our consistent position". "There was enough proof of the involvement of Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi but Pakistan's intentions were suspect. India's position in the statement should have reflected depth and maturity. We take a strong objection to this statement."

Other Congress leaders felt Prime Minister had been desperately looking for an opportunity to reverse his inexplicable no-talks position with Pakistan and this was probably the occasion to break the ice. They are happy with the decision to resume the engagement but have underlined what they see as an inconsistency in Modi's foreign policy, describing it as a switch-on-today and switch-off-tomorrow tactic.

"There is no vision, no roadmap, no cohesion. The BJP's description of today's joint statement as a historic breakthrough betrays poor understanding of diplomacy and foresight. It is neither historic, nor a breakthrough. It is, in fact, a diluted rehash of past joint statements. On the contrary, India has managed to extract more emphatic and substantive commitments from Pakistan (earlier). Previous joint statements didn't ask for more evidence in the Mumbai attacks (case)."

The 2012 joint statement, issued during the UPA's term after a meeting between the foreign ministers, said the leaders "agreed that terrorism poses a continuing threat to peace and security". "The ministers noted the commitment given by Pakistan during the interior/home secretary talks in May 2012 to bring all the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice expeditiously in accordance with due process of law."

Sharma also touched on the Chinese position on Lakhvi, pointing out that Beijing had recently blocked an Indian move at the UN to censure Pakistan over the release of the alleged 26/11 plotter.

"The government revealed that the Prime Minister conveyed India's concerns over the Lakhvi issue to the Chinese President. What did China say in response? Its foreign minister has justified the stand taken at the UN, saying it was based on facts. The government should not resort to one-way propaganda. Modi should understand event-management and image-building is no achievement for the nation."

Sharma said there was nothing "historic" in today's joint statement as national security advisers and the directors-general of military operations met anyway and a Prime Ministerial summit was not required for the purpose.

"Constructive engagement is needed with Pakistan but there has to be clarity and consistency in policy. You cancel all engagements one day and suddenly resume without getting any concessions. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj recently said there won't be any talks with Pakistan and now, the Prime Minister has changed that position," Sharma said.

Referring to the Palestine issue, the Congress leader said the government had weakened India's principled position and was jeopardising relations with West Asia and other countries that have said Israel used excessive force. He claimed the Prime Minister decided to change the stance against the advice of diplomats.