Former National Security Adviser, Mr M K Narayanan has refuted reports suggesting that that he had had any differences of opinion with Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, on the choices in Pakistan in the background of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Asked about Wikileak cable revelations in this regard, Mr Narayanan, who is presently the West Bengal Governor, said here last night on the sidelines of a Rotary function that he did not have any differences of opinion with the PM.

‘There was an informal discussion with the US Ambassador, Mr Timothy Roemer. I told him that the Prime Minister was a great believer in improving relations with Pakistan. He (PM) always says we can choose our friends, but we cannot choose our neighbours and Pakistan is a great neighbour.’

MR Narayanan said then the ambassador wanted to know his stand on these matters. ‘I said I do not have as much belief in Pakistan (as much PM has). That is a different view, not a difference of opinion. Nor do I think it is possible for the National security adviser to have difference of opinion with the PM. The Prime minister is the only one who decides on the policies not the NSA’, Mr Narayanan said.

As per the Wikileak cable revelations, Ambassador, Mr Roemer after a meeting with Mr Narayanan in August 2009 had held that the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan singh was isolated within his own government in his ‘great belief’ in talks and negotiations with Pakistan’.

Asked about the reports on the so called ‘Kerala Mafia’ in the PMO, Narayanan said it was an “American perception and obviously wrong perception. That’s all I can say”.

“I don’t think we are a mafia. We have been selected by the Prime minister and we have done what the PM would like us to do. Selections are done based on the availability. Hopefully good choices. The Prime minister wants the right people for the right job”, Mr Narayanan said.

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