NSA Ajit Doval says talks will continue only after Pakistan acts on Pathankot
The National Security Advisor’s words on Monday added to the confusion about whether the January 15 meeting between his team and Pakistan’s will still take place.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Monday said that India will continue talks with Pakistan only when the neighbouring country takes action against those behind the Pathankot terror attacks. Doval was speaking to NDTV, but did not clarify whether this meant that the secretary-level meeting between the two countries scheduled for January 15 has been cancelled.
According to dna, Doval denied reports quoting him as saying the meeting had been called off. The Pathankot terror attacks last week have created a rift between the two countries, even though relations appeared to be thawing after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore last month. After the attacks, India had said that the ball was in Pakistan’s court if bilateral talks were to resume.
Seven security personnel were killed in the attacks that began on January 2. Six terrorists were killed by Indian forces later. The attackers were believed to belong to the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, which has its base in Pakistan.