Our Correspondent //
India today said that the future of Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan will depend on the action taken by Islamabad on the actionable intelligence provided to them in Pathankot airbase terror attack case. The talks are scheduled to be held in the middle of this month.
Responding to a media query in New Delhi this evening, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, ball is now in Pakistan’s court and India is awaiting prompt and decisive action.
He said the Pathankot terror attack has renewed focus on cross border terrorism. New Delhi made it clear that Islamabad needs to take action against terrorism to maintain friendly relations. Mr Swarup said, India always favours talks with its neighbours including Pakistan but terror and talks cannot takes place together.
Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan saw some positive developments in the recent past following meeting between National Security Advisors of the two countries in Bangkok. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Islamabad and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during Hearts of Asia Conference.
Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a stopover at Lahore on his way back to New Delhi after visiting Russia and Afghanistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The two leaders had decided to continue talks while maintaining friendly relations.
After the attack in Pathankot, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had telephoned Mr Modi and assured him of prompt and decisive action against the terrorists. When asked about attack on India’s consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, Vikas Swarup said Indian consulate was targeted and the investigation is going on.