Pakistan passing on information on terror attacks good sign for ties: Pakistani leader

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's passing on of information to India to caution it against terrorist attacks on Maha Shivratri is a "very good sign" for bilateral ties and shows how serious Pakistan is for a dialogue, a Pakistani leader today said.

"Transfer of sensitive information to India to caution it against potential terrorist attacks is a very good sign and shows how seriously Pakistan takes this issue," former federal Information Minister of Pakistan Javed Jabbar told newspersons here.

The Pakistani government did not support the Pathankot attack "in any way" and has taken "prompt" action in the case, he said on the sidelines of 'Pakistan-India Legislators and Public Officials Dialogue on Sharing of Experiences on Governance and Democracy' here.

On the World Twenty20 match between Indian and Pakistan in Dharamsala, Jabbar said, "I am glad the central government is taking steps to provide paramilitary cover and I hope our team of officials, which is visiting the area, will give a signal to the Pakistani government...I hope the match takes place."

On British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond's statement that resolving the Kashmir issue should not be a pre-condition for holding talks between India and Pakistan, Jabbar said Pakistan "need not be told by anyone on what it should do".

Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee for defence production's chairman Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum also said, "Pakistan has taken initiative on the Pathankot incident and also interrogating those arrested."

Meanwhile, ex-RAW chief A S Dulat, who also in attendance at the event, said the Dharamshala match "must take place" and that he "can't see any reason why the contest should not take place".

On Hammond's statement, Dulat said, "Dialogue must go on irrespective of whatever happened."