“Very near future'' . This is the new timeframe for the foreign secretary levels talk between India and Pakistan.
The talk, which was scheduled for January 15 were finally called off a day before. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India's foreign secretary S. Jaishankar called up his counterpart, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and the two, by “mutual consent'' decided to postpone the scheduled meet.
Elaborating on why the meeting was deferred, Swarup said the investigation in the Pathankot terror attack was on and both foreign secretaries felt it was prudent to give some time, so that the talk would move away from the shadow of the incident.
“The dialogue process, which started with the National Security Advisor (NSA) in Bangkok was in jeopardy after the attack, but the measures taken to continue it forward is a positive indicator,'' he said.
The new warmth in the Indo-Pakistan relationship received a huge setback with the attack at the Pathankot air base.
Swarup, however, said India welcomed the moves Pakistan had made post the attacks. Pakistan has detained Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and several members of the outfit in connection with investigations into the attack.
“They also asked us whether their Special Investigating Team (SIT) could come and we have welcomed that move, too,'' said Swarup, adding that this is a “positive move.”
Nonetheless, he noted that what India wanted from Pakistan was action that was “credible, comprehensive and which brings to book the perpetrators of the attack.''