The main opposition BJP, on its part, criticised the joint statement and attacked the prime minister, while its leader L.K. Advani led his party MPs out of the Lok Sabha in protest.

The opposition also alleged in the house that the prime minister did not have the backing of his own party on the issue.

At the parliamentary party meeting, Sonia Gandhi asserted that there was no dilution on India's foreign policy vis-a-vis Pakistan because of the joint statement.

'No one should be in any doubt on our party's position vis-a-vis Pakistan. It remains unchanged,' Sonia Gandhi said.

'We support the resumption of the dialogue process with Pakistan, but only after it has demonstrated its seriousness to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice and to prevent its territory from being used to launch terror attacks on any part of our country.'

She pointed out that this was imperative to restore confidence and build an environment conducive to any meaningful dialogue.

Her son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi dispelled speculations that there was a disquiet within the party.

'The government and the party are absolutely one... You media have created such an impression (of differences),' Gandhi told reporters in the parliament house complex.