Taking to the media right here, MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup stated the federal government’s coverage in the direction of Pakistan is obvious and constant. Foreign Secretary-level talks are scheduled to be held on January 14-15 in Islamabad. New Delhi said in a statement that Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval has not only sent the fresh evidence to his Pakistani counterpart (Retired) Army General Naseer Khan Janjua, but also held telephonic conversation with him thrice since January 4. It has left the onus of talks on Sharif by suggesting that Pakistan’s response will decide whether the dialogue continues.
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While Pakistan has condemned the attack, sources say that it is unlikely that they will take any action against the perpetrators. The dossier includes call records from Bahawalpur and locations and addresses from where the calls originated.
Pakistan is following up the leads, the official said, and hopes that the talks would not be cancelled while it explores them. The Pakistan Prime Minister promised us prompt and decisive action. Without setting any deadline for Pakistan to take any action, Swarup said, “The terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase has once again put renewed focus on the challenges posed by the cross border terrorism”.
“China welcomes all measures conducive to improving the Pakistan-India relationship and supports Pakistan and India in beefing up anti-terrorism cooperation”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing.
“But India will not tolerate cross-border terror”, he said.
Seven security personnel were killed in the attack on the Pathankot Air Force Station by six terrorists. Pakistan forces reportedly conducted some initial raids on Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist outfit led by Maulana Masood Azhar, which is allegedly held responsible for the Pathankot attack.
There was a thaw in India-Pakistan relations following a seemingly impromptu meeting between Modi and Shartif on November 30 on the sidelines of the Paris climate summit.
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“We condemn this attack…At this juncture this attack might have been launched intentionally to disrupt this momentum (in Indo-Pak ties)”.
