Foreign Office insisted on Tuesday that both Pakistan and India are in touch to decide the date for the meeting of the foreign secretaries of the two countries amid statements from India that "talks cannot continue along with violence". "Both sides are in touch to decide the date," Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah responded to Business Recorder in a text message when his comments were sought on negative comments from India specifically President Pranab Mukherjee's comment that 'talks cannot continue along with violence', with reference to the Pathankot airbase attack.
A scheduled meeting of the two foreign secretaries could not be held on January 15, 2016 in the aftermath of the Pathankot airbase terrorist attack and the two sides agreed to reschedule the talks in the "very near future". Pakistan has given an assurance to investigate as per the 'leads and information' provided by Indian authorities and took action against the members of Jaish-e-Mohammad; however the recent statement by the Indian President came on the eve of India's 67th Republic Day with French President Francois Hollande the chief guest on the occasion.
Analysts are skeptical that the talks will be held in the 'very near future' as more than 10 days have passed since the two sides announced the postponement of the talks on January 14. "I don't see any early meeting between the two foreign secretaries and India may try to further delay the meeting by keeping up the pressure on Pakistan on the basis of statements of US President Obama and French President Hollande", said Hassan Askari Rizvi, a senior analyst, adding that the talks might not be cancelled but will take some more time to resume.
Terming Pathankot terror strike another example of the inexcusable terrorism that India has endured for too long, US President Barack Obama on Sunday demanded that Pakistan "delegitimise, disrupt and dismantle" terrorist networks that operate from its territory.
In a separate joint statement on terrorism on January 25, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Modi and French President Hollande, highlighted the urgent need to disrupt terrorist networks and financing channels, eliminating terrorist safe havens, training infrastructure and cross-border movement of terrorists. And, underlined the need for all countries to effectively deal with terrorism emanating from their territory or territories under their control. They called for actions to be taken, consistent with international law, against all entities, including States, that sponsor, provide support, active or passive, to terrorist groups or harbour them.
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