No India-Pakistan foreign secretary talks tomorrow, likely to be rescheduled

“We are looking for credible and comprehensive action from them to bring all the perpetrators of Pathankot terror attack to justice”, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday.

India likely to take a decision on whether to go ahead with the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan tomorrow.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday chaired a high-level meeting which was told that offices of JeM were being traced and sealed. Jaishankar was scheduled to travel to Islamabad to hold talks with Chaudhary on Friday, but both the countries announced deferment of talks with “mutual consent” to “very near future”, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Pakistan also did not confirm the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, media reports over which India has some reservations.

According to reports, security agencies have arrested 31 activists of JeM from different parts of the province.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late on Wednesday evening said there was no official confirmation from Islamabad on Masood Azhar’s arrest. “So far what Pakistan has done we welcome”, Swarup said.

He said that the India government had also noted the apprehension of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) members in Pakistan, and called the Pakistani government’s action against Jaish “an important and positive first step”. The announcement to reschedule the talks came from Islamabad and hours later New Delhi gave a strong indication of pulling the dialogue process “back on track”.

India will make it clear yet again to Pakistan that it wants proof of Azhar’s detention and this is likely to be raised when Doval speaks with the Pakistan’s NSA upon his return.

“We welcome the statement by the Pakistan Government made yesterday (Wednesday) on the investigation in Pakistan”.

The Foreign Office spokesman also condemned the explosions in Indonesia and said Pakistan opposes every kind of terrorism.

Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, the Himalayan region that both countries claim.