NEW DELHI -- In the aftermath of the deadly attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base, carried out by terrorists who came from Pakistan, the Modi government is adopting a cautious strategy to its interaction with Islamabad, and a wait-and-watch approach
to the upcoming Foreign Secretary-level talks.
Speaking to reporters today, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup did not rule out India's participation in the talks scheduled for Jan 15, but he said that New Delhi would keenly observe whether Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif holds good on his promise of "prompt and decisive" action.
Swarup said that Islamabad had eight days to act on actionable intelligence provided by New Delhi before the Indo-Pak talks.
"The ball is in Pakistan's court," said Swraup. "The immediate issue is Pakistan's response."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who assured us a prompt response. India now awaits a prompt and decisive action," he said.
All six terrorists, who attacked the Indian Air Force base in Punjab on Saturday, were killed in counter-operations which lasted for three days.
The deadly attack, which claimed the lives of seven security personnel, came a week after Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan on his way back from Kabul to New Delhi.
The Foreign Secretary-level talks were scheduled following the informal meeting between Modi and Sharif in Lahore on Dec. 25, which also happened to be the Pakistani leader's birthday.
The two leaders walked hand-in-hand before boarding a helicopters to Sharif's ancestral house, where preparations were afoot for his granddaughter Mehrun Nisa's wedding. Two days later at the wedding, Sharif wore the pink Rajasthani turban which Modi gifted him.
In Islamabad today, Sharif met with top officials in his government including National Security Advisor Naseer Khan Janjua, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz.
Citing a source privy to the discussion, PTI reported, “The meeting decided to speed up work on the leads given by India.”
Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf, and two others identified by India as 'handlers' behind Pathankot terror atta
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2016
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