Suspense remains over the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan scheduled for January 15 in Islamabad after India on Thursday linked the fate of the meeting with Pakistan’s response to the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase.
Significantly, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to discuss the Pathankot terror attack and directed officials to speed up work on the leads given by India.
India said it was awaiting “prompt and decisive action” from Pakistan and any measures that show the intention to address India’s concerns on terrorism.
“We have extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan, but that does not mean India can tolerate cross-border terrorism. We have given actionable Intelligence to Pakistani authorities proving links with the perpetrators in Pakistan and now we are awaiting a response from them. The ball is in Pakistan’s court to take forward the process of peace talk,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
The MEA has said that India’s expectations arise from the “actionable Intelligence” provided to Pakistani authorities, giving details of the handlers, the mastermind and conspirators behind the attack on India’s strategic airbase and assurances given by Nawaz Sharif to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on taking prompt action. The Indian Government now wants some action from Pakistan before committing for the talks.
Meanwhile, as per agency reports from Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the Pathankot terror attack and has directed officials to speed up work on the leads given by India.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, Sartaj Aziz, Adviser on Foreign Affairs, lieutenant-General (Retd) Janjua, National Security Adviser Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Foreign Secretary Aftab Sultan, chief of Intelligence Bureau and other officials.
“Issues pertaining to national and regional security were discussed during the meeting,” the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office said in a brief statement.
A source privy to the details said that the meeting discussed the Pathankot attack and the information shared so far by India. “The meeting decided to speed up work on the leads given by India,” he said on condition of anonymity.
While India hinted the January 15 talks would depend on Pakistan’s response, at the same time Swarup said New Delhi was not setting any deadlines on the action from Pakistan’s side. He added that the key leads given to them are sufficient to begin a crackdown on the perpetrators of the terror attack. Some arrests and preventive detentions will at least indicate Pakistan’s intention of containing terrorism emanating from its soil.
“The terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase has once again put renewed focus on the challenges posed by cross-border terrorism. The immediate issue in front of us is Pakistan’s response to the terrorist attack.
During that conversation our Prime Minister very strongly urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan to take action. The Pakistani PM has promised us prompt and decisive action. We await that. 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,” Swarup said.
Swarup clarified that India’s Pakistan policy is “clear and consistent” and it was all for friendly relations with all neighbouring countries including Pakistan but national security comes first and cross-border terrorism will not be tolerated.
“We had extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan but we will not tolerate cross-border terrorist attacks. The decision to commence a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue with Pakistan followed a constructive meeting of the National Security Advisers in Bangkok in which the central concerns of terrorism, peace, security and tranquility on the line of Control were discussed. But the Pathankot attack has put renewed focus on cross-border terror,” he added.
Meanwhile, Swarup said the Indian Consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif in Northern Afghanistan was the main target of the terrorist attack on Sunday night and India is now awaiting details of investigation from the Afghan Government to determine the men behind it. Swarup said Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had briefed Modi about the attack. Modi thanked him for the exemplary bravery and courage shown by the Afghan National Security Forces in thwarting the attack.