New Delhi: India on Sunday said Pakistan had sought more time to analyse the Pathankot evidence furnished by India and that it had not so far shot down the proposal for an Indian NIA team to visit that country, even as external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said the proposed Foreign Secretary (FS)-level talks with Islamabad had not been cancelled.
However, Ms Swaraj also said that India had stuck by its stand that talks and terror cannot go together and made it clear that people in India wanted some concrete action by Pakistan after the Pathankot strike.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also said the “warmth and ease” in relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours.
Asserting that India wants to resolve all vexed issues with Pakistan through talks, Ms Swaraj said the government was pursuing a three-point formula to deal with Islamabad the focus of which is that talks cannot go on if Pakistan does not take action to contain terror.
“First, we want to solve every issue thorough talks. Second, talks will be between India and Pakistan and no third country or party will be its part. Third, terror and talks will not go hand-in-hand,” Swaraj said.
“After the Pathankot attack, there were expectations from the government and people that there should be some concrete steps from their side. This expectation is not unreasonable. So we are waiting for concrete steps from their side,” she said.
The external affairs minister said Pakistan has not refused to allow a team of NIA to visit that country to carry forward the probe into the Pathankot terror attack case and that it is just seeking “more time” to examine the evidence.
A five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack. India has been maintaining that since the JIT’s visit was on a reciprocal basis, the NIA team investigating the case would like to visit Pakistan.
Swaraj said the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad had met the authorites on the issue twice and “they said they are analysing (the evidence). They have not refused (to allow NIA to visit). They just said they want more time.” She said FS-level talks between the two countries have not been called off.
