No Action, No Talks: Pathankot Test For PM Modi’s Pakistan Policy?

Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf Asghar, mastermind of IC-814 hijack case, are among four persons identified by Indian intelligence agencies as “handlers” behind the recent Pathankot attack. “The immediate issue is Pakistan’s response to the terrorist attack and the actionable intelligence provided to it”, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a media briefing. “The Pakistani prime minister promised us prompt and decisive action”, he said.

Reverting to anti-Pakistan rhetoric, India has now leveled fresh set of allegations against Pakistan days after the deadly terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase, Dunya News reported.

Uncertainty prevails on talks scheduled for January 15 in Islamabad between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry following the terror strike on the Pathakot air base which has originated from Pakistan. The Pakistani government is believed to be initiating action against them on the basis of the names it has received from India.

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

The decision to initiate action against those who purportedly orchestrated the attack is said to have come at a high-level meeting called by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today, senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir told India TV.

Asked if there was any time-frame within which Pakistan should take action, he said, “We are not imposing any deadline. “We now await that prompt and decisive action”.

According to earlier reports, India wanted the the NSAs of the two countries to meet before Foreign Secretary-level talks are held.

He stated that “Friendship will not be at value of cross-border terrorism”.

Swarup stated that India will not compromise on cross-border terror and the dialogue with Pakistan is aimed toward “peace and tranquillity”.

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.