The foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan will take place only after the latter takes action against those behind the Pathankot terror attack, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Monday.
"No peace talks now till Pakistan takes action against Pathankot terrorists and India is satisfied with Pakistan's efforts," ANI quoted Doval as saying.
Sartaj Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had earlier said that the Indo-Pak talks will take place on 15 January, according to PTI. However, Doval on Monday said that India has not finalised any date for the dialogue yet, NDTV reported.
Earlier on Monday, Dainik Bhaskar quoted the Indian NSA as saying, "India has cancelled Indo-Pak talks scheduled for 15 January in Lahore."
Doval, however, denied giving any interview to the national daily.
I do not remember giving any such interview: NSA Ajit Doval to ANI on Dainik Bhaskar report
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 11, 2016
Talks depend on Pakistan's response to India's demand on Pathankot attack
It has also been reported that the Indo-Pak dialogue now depends on Islamabad's response to New Delhi's demand for action against the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack. Seven security personnel and six militants were killed in the attack.
Doval had, on 4 January, shared some evidence that linked Pakistan to the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab, with his Pakistani counterpart General (retired) Naseer Khan Janjua, The Economic Times had reported.
Later, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif also discussed the issue over the telephone. During the conversation, Modi sought immediate action against the militant organisation responsible for the attack.
Modi "strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack," PTI cited an excerpt from the PMO statement.
Sharif, who had promised "prompt and decisive action", chaired a high-level meeting with Janjua, Aziz and other top officials on Thursday to discuss the evidence provided by India.
"Pak govt sources: High level meeting by PM Nawaz Sharif on Pathankot attack attended by NSA and other concerned; Sharif wants immediate action," IBN Live had tweeted.
The relations between India and Pakistan turned sour over issues like terrorism, repeated ceasefire violations and several alleged infiltration attempts from Pakistan.
However, both the nations decided to iron out their differences during Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Pakistan in December, when they decided to hold foreign secretary-level talks to discuss all outstanding issues.
Later, Modi also visited Lahore on Sharif's birthday while returning from Kabul last year.
