WITHIN hours of an announcement that the government was sending DG ISI to India to help in the investigation of Mumbai blasts, it changed the decision, announcing that a representative of the ISI would now visit India. It is not known what precisely Dr Manmohan Singh told Prime Minister Gilani during their telephonic conversation that led the latter to decide to immediately send the DG ISI to New Delhi. The decision was taken jointly by President Zardari and PM Gilani. Apparently it was taken post-haste and without holding consultations with other stakeholders. It was claimed that the defence establishment had been taken into confidence. This, however, seems doubtful in view of the observations by the ISPR chief, made within hours of the announcement. He said there was no precedent of the sort, and the decision was yet to be finalized. Further, that nothing could be said till the government's detailed orders, explaining the aims and objects of the decision, were received. If those who took the decision conceived it as a bright, out-of-the-box move aimed at allaying New Delhi's suspicions and restoring goodwill, what happened was the opposite. Soon after the announcement, an Indian commentator portrayed it as an indirect admission of culpability. The Times of India gave it another unfortunate twist, publishing the news under the heading "Pakistan's Prime Minister agrees to send ISI chief to Delhi on Manmohan Singh's summons." There were also protests from the domestic side from political parties and ex-servicemen. Among the parties which resented the move was the PML(N), despite its earlier condemnation of the Mumbai blasts and the fact that the party strongly supports improvement of ties with India. There is nothing unusual about the chiefs of the security agencies of Pakistan and India meeting to exchange notes. There is, in fact, an agreement between the two countries signed during the Musharraf era, allowing one to seek help from the other and share intelligence in the War On Terror. But to be useful, visits of the sort have to be well-planned. A specific agenda has to be worked out and necessary preparations made. In case of there being complaints, these have to be shared through proper channels. It was highly unusual on the part of the Prime Minister of India to seek the personal presence of the ISI chief at a time when the atmosphere in India is highly charged and every government functionary is pointing a finger at Pakistan, though an enquiry is yet to be held. National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani has assured the ISI would extend all possible cooperation to Indian intelligence agencies to bring the real culprits to book. What is needed is to desist from making accusations and from putting up any demand that could be interpreted as an affront.