MEA: Indo-Pak Foreign Secy Talk to Be Rescheduled in Near Future

Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that Foreign Secretary level talks will be rescheduled in the near future.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif (left) with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz. (Photo: PTI)

The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Vikas Swarup said on Thursday that India and Pakistan have agreed to reschedule the Foreign Secretary level meet through mutual agreement in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The meet, scheduled for 15-16 January, was questioned after the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on 2 January.

<p>FS level talks is a separate track, the SIT on Pathankot is a separate track. Don’t link the two.<br></p>

<b>Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs</b>

Swarup also denied reports about a suspected meet between the National Security Advisors (NSA) of the two countries before the FS-level meeting.

The Indian intelligence suspects Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad to be responsible for the attack which claimed lives of six Indian security personnel.

Also read: India Shares Pathankot Evidence, Names of JeM Handlers With Pak

On 13 January, the Pakistani media had reported that the chief of JeM was being taken into protective custody by the Pakistani authorities.

However, Indian as well as Pakistan MEA have denied reports of his arrest.

Pakistani authorities have, however, made arrests as a part of the Pathankot probe and have decided to send a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to India.

Also read: Pakistan Cracks Down on JeM, to Send Special Probe Team to India

Swarup has said that the Indian government has welcomed the significant progress made by the Pakistani authorities in the probe.

India, he said, is awaiting the SIT from Pakistan and will be provided all possible support from Indian investigation machinery.

Post Pathankot Attack

Questions were also raised about the attack on the Pakistani airline office in Delhi and the attacks on the Indian consulates in Afghanistan.

Also read: Pakistan Airlines Office Ransacked by Right-Wing Activists

Swarup was clueless about the attack by right-wing activists on Pakistani airline office.

India is awaiting the initial report from the Afghanistan investigation agencies. The investigation by Afghan agencies, he said, is underway.

Also read:
Car With Explosives Found Near Indian Consulate in Herat, One Held
Indian Consulate in Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif Attacked