Talks with Pakistan not suspended, next step when time is right, says India

NEW DELHI: Amid conflicting statements from Pakistan about the status of India-Pakistan talks, the government on Friday clarified that dialogue between the two nations has not been suspended.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz had earlier this week said the talks had not not been cancelled even though these could be called suspended as there had been no engagement between the two countries since the Pathankot attack.

MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said the dialogue had not been suspended and that the visit by JIT to Pathankot had taken place in a very "constructive and cooperative" environment.

"We welcome cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms," he added.

While the Pakistan foreign office had said on Thursday that there was still no official request from India for a return visit by NIA to Pakistan, Swarup said New Delhi will consider taking the next step at an appropriate time. NIA though has already announced that it wants to visit Pakistan to carry forward the Pathankot probe.

While Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit had said earlier that the talks should be described as suspended, Pakistan foreign ministry on Thursday blamed the Indian media for creating "unwarranted'' hype over the issue.

"This question has been repeatedly asked and I will only add to what has been said earlier is that Pakistan will be ready to talk when India is ready," Pakistan foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria Zakaria said.