PTI
New Delhi, January 8
India awaits “prompt and decisive” action from Pakistan against the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack, the government said on Thursday, for the first time linking the action to Foreign Secretary talks between the two countries scheduled for January 15. “We are waiting for Pakistan to take action on the actionable intelligence provided to them and the assurances given to us on prompt and decisive action. Obviously if that prompt and decisive action happens, it creates a different dynamic,” the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told the media on Thursday.
Asked if that meant the talks could be cancelled, in case Pakistan did not act on the leads provided by India, the spokesperson replied, “January 15th is 8 days away, let’s see what happens between now and then,” also denying that there had been “any discussion with Pakistan” on the possibility of NSAs Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Gen. (retd.) Janjua meeting ahead of those talks.
In Pakistan, PM Nawaz Sharif, who returned from Sri Lanka the night before, chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday, attended by senior ministers, his chief foreign affairs advisors Sartaj Aziz and Tariq Fatemi, NSA Lt. Gen. Janjua, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhury and the Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan. The official release only said that “issues pertaining to national and regional security were discussed.”
As India awaits decisive action from Pakistan against the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack, unidentified officials quoted by news agency PTI said Thursday’s high-level meeting in Pakistan chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had discussed the terror strike, adding that “the meeting decided to speed up work on the leads given by India.”
According to PTI, other officials said that Pakistan would request additional information from India. “We would like to have solid information to build a case for action. Otherwise courts intervene and the suspects are bailed out.”
Asked about the specific information provided, the MEA spokesperson wouldn’t give details, but said that “actionable intelligence” had reached the concerned authorities in Pakistan.
“As far as we are concerned, the ball is now in Pakistan’s court. The immediate issue in front of us is Pakistan’s response to the terrorist attack and the actionable intelligence provided by it.”
The spokesperson’s words are the sharpest public comments from the government on the Pathankot attack that left seven Indian soldiers dead.
Government and Cabinet officials have thus far avoided pointing a finger directly at Pakistan, or of naming any particular group that is involved.
However, sources told The Hindu that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with his Pakistan counterpart had been more candid.
Pak has to curb terror activities: Gowda
Union Minister of Law and Justice DV Sadananda Gowda today said that if Pakistan wants to continue talks with India, it has to take steps to curb terrorist activities originating from its soil.
“Now ball is in Pakistan’s court. Pakistan has to respond positively to continue the bilateral talks. If Pakistan wants to continue talks, it has to take steps to curb the terrorist activities, which are harming our country, from its soil,” Gowda said addressing a press conference here.
“The Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are taking all necessary steps to maintain good relations with Pakistan and trying to ensure to take the bilateral talks forward to maintain peace in the sub-continent,” he stressed.
Praising the soldiers, commandos and intelligence officials for efficiently handling the terror attack in Pathankot air base, he paid rich tributes to those who sacrificed their lives while fighting the terrorists.
Based on the information of intelligence department, all (security) forces were alerted who efficiently handled the Pathankot terror strike, otherwise it may have turned out to be “worse than the Mumbai terror attack (of 2008),” the minister said.
Gowda said the government is keen on maintaining harmony and good relations with the neighbouring countries and also to safeguard the nations’s interests.
Six terrorists, who had sneaked into the country from Indo-Pak border in Pakistan, attacked the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab during the intervening night of January 1 and 2.
They were killed during a counter-operation by Indian forces that lasted for about three days in which seven security personnel were killed.
Notably, putting the ball squarely in Pakistan’s court, India yesterday linked the Foreign Secretary-level talks to Islamabad’s “prompt and decisive” action in the Pathankot terror attack for which it has provided “actionable intelligence”.
Uncertainty prevails on talks scheduled for January 15 in Islamabad between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry following the Pathakot terror attack which was originated from Pakistan. There is a widespread speculation that the talks may be put off to enable National Security Advisors to meet before that.
