Foreign Office on Thursday said that secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India delayed for some days but not cancelled as Islamabad and New Delhi are considering new dates.
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According to reports, it has been chose to wait for the return of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval from Paris today for a final decision to be taken with regard to the talks.
Reports earlier suggested that Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies had yesterday arrested 12 suspects of the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), including its chief Masood Azhar, over links with the attack on Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told a media conference that India expected an action that was “credible, comprehensive and brings to justice all known perpetrators of the Pathankot terror attack”. Even as he welcomed the Pakistani action against JeM, Swarup said India will not go by “empty statements” and will see action on the ground.
Addressing a weekly briefing here in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said that Pakistan was extending its support to India for eradication of terrorism in the country.
At the same time, Mr. Swarup made it clear that India had no information about the reported detention of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. “The two foreign secretaries have mutually agreed”. However, the NSAs were in regular touch, he added.
“Based on the initial investigations in Pakistan, and the information provided, several individuals belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad, have been apprehended”, the office of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said. Talks are now set to take place in the “very near future” with mutual consent.
Commenting on Pathankot’s probe, spokeperson said, “We look forward to the visit of the Paksitani Special Investigation Team (SIT)”.
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The attack-a rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside disputed Kashmir-threatened to undermine improving relations with Pakistan after decades of fractious ties.
