Foreign Secretary-level talks depend on Pakistan response to Pathankot attack: India

Putting the ball squarely in Pakistan’s court, India on Thursday linked the Foreign Secretary-level talks to Islamabad’s “prompt and decisive” action in the Pathankot terror attack for which it has provided “actionable intelligence”.

New Delhi has also identified Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf, and two others as “handlers” behind the terror attack.

Uncertainty prevails on talks scheduled for January 15, 2016 in Islamabad between Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry following the terror strike on the Pathankot air base. There is a widespread speculation that the talks may be put off to enable National Security Advisors to meet before that.

At a media briefing in New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup faced a barrage of questions on Foreign Secretary-level talks but he remained non-committal on whether the talks will proceed as scheduled or will be put off. “Today is January 7 and there are 8 days to go before January 15,” he remarked.

Without setting any deadline for Pakistan to take any action, Mr. Swarup said, “The terrorist attack on Pathankot air base has once again put renewed focus on the challenges posed by the cross border terrorism.

“As far as we are concerned the ball is now in Pakistan’s court. The immediate issue in front of us is Pakistan’s response to the terrorist attack and the actionable intelligence provided to it.”

Mr. Swarup was replying to a query about the status of India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Referring to the recent telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, he said, “During that conversation our Prime Minister very strongly urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan to take action.

“Actionable intelligence in regard to the terrorist attack and the links with the perpetrators in Pakistan were provided to the Pakistani side. The Pakistan Prime Minister promised us prompt and decisive action. We now wait that prompt and decisive action.”

Asked if there was any timeframe within which Pakistan should take action, he said, “We are not imposing any deadline. At the same time prompt means prompt and we will go by the common sense interpretation of that word,” and rejected a contention that India’s demand would derail the talks.