Talks uncertain as India says Pakistan must first hunt militants

Earlier in the day, India said it will not go ahead with foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan next unless the neighbouring country takes action on the evidence provided by India of the Pathankot terror attack. “The immediate issue in front of us is Pakistan’s response to the terrorist attack and the actionable intelligence that has been provided (to them)”, he said.

Based on the given evidence, India wants to increase pressure on Pakistan so that they act against the top brass of JeM which is believed to be behind the attack. “We have prolonged a hand of friendship to Pakistan, however we won’t countenance cross-border terrorist assaults”, Swarup stated.

Rahul Roy Chaudhury of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, too, believes that recent attacks on Pathankot air base and the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif could not have been a surprise to the Indian security establishment.

As a result, Indian NSA Ajit Doval has spoken at least three times by phone with his Pakistani counterpart, Naseer Khan Janjua, since the attack, including last Saturday evening when the fighting was still ongoing, the Pakistani official said.

Prime ministers Narendra Modi of India and Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan are struggling to keep their renewed dialogue on track after the militant attack killed seven Indian military personnel and wounded 22.

Swarup has also cleared that Pakistan has strongly condemned Pathankot attack and it has vowed to take stringent action against all those involved in it.

“Actionable intelligence in regard to the terrorist attack and the links with the perpetrators in Pakistan was provided to the Pakistani side”.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assured Prime Minister Modi that his government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists. There is a widespread speculation that the talks may be put off to enable National Security Advisors to meet before that. “We now await that prompt and decisive action”.

Two days later, Sushma Swaraj landed in Islamabad to attend the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.

India and Pakistan have since agreed to start a comprehensive bilateral dialogue.