Pathankot terror attack: Action first, talks later - is India's clear message to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday virtually made proposed foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan conditional on prompt action by Islamabad into the Pathankot terror attack, for which New Delhi has provided actionable intelligence to the Nawaz Sharif government.

The FS-level talks to finalise modalities and schedule meetings for various segments under the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue over the next six months are proposed to be held in Islamabad on January 15-16.

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However, the attack by Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammad on the Pathankot air base has put a question mark on this dialogue. "The ball is in Pakistan's court. The immediate issue is Pakistan's response to the Pathankot attack and actionable intelligence provided to it," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a press conference here. "Cross-border terrorism is again in focus after the terrorist attack on the Pathankot air force base," he said. "Today is January 7 and there are eight days to go before January 15," he remarked to a question on Pak action before the January 15-16 FS-level dialogue.

Swarup said Pakistan had assured India of prompt action against those involved or responsible for the attack and India was waiting for its action against the terrorists. Asked if there was any time-frame within which Pakistan should act, he said: "We are not imposing any deadline.

At the same time, prompt means prompt and we will go by the common sense interpretation of that word." He rejected a contention that India's demand would derail the talks.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who assured of prompt response," the spokesperson said.

Information provided by India not enough: Pakistan

Pakistan government sources said the information provided by India was not enough as it was just limited to telephone numbers. "Pakistan would like to have solid information to build a case...otherwise courts intervene and the suspects are bailed out," a source in the Pak government claimed.

After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Pak had repeatedly told India that evidence was inadequate to prosecute alleged perpetrators of the act. Pak PM Sharif held a high-level meeting to discuss the terror attack. He asked officials to speed up work on the leads given by India, sources said.