India reverts to anti-Pakistan rhetoric ahead of Foreign Secretary level talks

Besides the agencies here claimed to have found evidence that the “conspiracy” for the Pathankot terror attack was hatched in Markaj, near Lahore, top government sources said on Wednesday.

“I hope the terrorists will be brought to justice”, Warner said as he condemned the horrific terrorist attacks against India at the Pathankot military base and Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.

“They (Pakistan) said they’re going to investigate it. They said they’re not going to discriminate between terrorist groups when they conduct counter-terrorism operations”, the official said, acknowledging that the U.S. has reached out to Pakistan after the Pathankot terror attack.

At a media briefing here, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup faced a barrage of questions on FS-level talks, but he remained noncommittal on whether the talks will proceed as scheduled or will be put off. “Today is January 7 and there are eight days to go before January 15, ” he remarked.

Talks between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan slated for January 15th, seemed to be on thin ice as New Delhi, yesterday, linked the event with “decisive and prompt” action by Islamabad, on the deadly terror attack, at the Pathankot airbase. Detailed investigation by intelligence officials show that the terrorists used Ikaagar’s phone to give a “missed call” to their handlers in Pakistan to tell them how they could be reached.

“PM Modi has spoken to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif who assured us immediate response”, Swarup stated including, “Ball is now in Pakistan’s courtroom”. Swarup added, “The government’s stand on Pakistan is clear and consistent”.

Pakistan “knows well the threat of terrorism.is a regional challenge that requires real regional solutions”, he said, “and we want Pakistan to be a part of those solutions”. “India now awaits a prompt and decisive action”, Swarup said.

He acknowledged that the USA has reached out to Pakistan after the Pathankot terror attack.

Although Sharif has reportedly told the Indian PM that action will be taken against groups if the evidence proves they were involved in attacks against India, thiswill not be received well inside Pakistan.

“The ball is now in Pakistan’s court”.

Seven security personnel were killed in the January 2 attack on the Pathankot Air Force Station. He also said that they let a hand of friendship to Pakistan and it has to take the lead for the sake of peace in the region.

Attempts to restart talks between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since becoming separate countries in 1947, have often been derailed by similar past attacks.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also directed the foreign office officials and his adviser on national security Lt-General (r) Nasir Janjua to stay in contact with Indian counterparts to continuously exchange information in this regard.