NEW DELHI: The new External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said India would exchange information with Pakistan under the joint mechanism to fight terror and await its response.

Nuclear deal

On the fate of the India-U.S. nuclear accord, he told presspersons here that the Bush administration had assured India that it would do its best to see that the deal was through.

Asked about the change of his portfolio from Defence, Mr. Mukherjee said it was the Prime Minister's prerogative.

The new Defence Minister A.K. Antony said he saw the assignment as a "great challenge" and would try to perform it with dedication.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said she would have to reshuffle the AICC, now that two senior leaders Ambika Soni and Oscar Fernandes had joined the Government.

Praise for Fernandes

Ms. Gandhi showered praise on Mr. Fernandes, saying the party would find it difficult to get a replacement. He was always available and spent a lot of time for organisational work.

Top Congress sources said a comprehensive reshuffle of the Council of Ministers would be carried out after the end of the budget session of Parliament.

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